Syphilis
Syphilis Causes
The bacterial organism that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, enters the body through minor cuts or abrasions in the skin or mucous membranes. The most common route of transmission is through contact with another infected person's sore during sexual activity.
Syphilis Definition
Syphilis is a bacterial infection typically transmitted by sexual contact. The disease affects the genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of the body, including the brain and the heart.
Syphilis Diagnosis
To diagnose syphilis, the doctor may scrape a small sample of cells from a sore to be analyzed by microscope in a lab.
Syphilis Symptoms and Signs
Primary symptoms include a small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of the body where the infection was transmitted, usually the genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there can be multiple sores. There may also be enlarged lymph nodes found in the groin.
Syphilis Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment with penicillin ? or another antibiotic if the patient is allergic to penicillin ? can kill the organism that causes syphilis and stop the progression of the disease. Left untreated, the disease can result to serious complications or death.