Syphilis meaning: Syphilis

Syphilis , systemic disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can be acquired through sexual and nonsexual contact. An unborn fetus can be infected by the mother. A chancre at the site of infection is an early symptom. Latent infection can damage the heart and nerves, causing death. Syphilis is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum and is characterized by 3 sequential symptomatic stages separated by periods of asymptomatic latent infection. Common manifestations include painless genital ulcers, skin lesions, meningitis, aortic disease, and neurologic syndromes. Diagnosis is by serologic tests and adjunctive tests selected based on the disease stage. Penicillin is the treatment of choice. Syphilis is a bacterial STD that can cause sores, rash, and organ damage if not treated. Learn about the causes, stages, diagnosis, and complications of syphilis and how to prevent it. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium. These pathogens usually enter the body through the tissues that line the rectum, vagina or nose. If not treated quickly, it could get worse over time and causes other medical issues. There are four stages of syphilis – Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary.