Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.
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Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Syphilis is an infectious disease. The bacteria that causes it spreads through broken skin or mucous membranes. It is most often spread by sexual contact.
Pregnant mothers infected with the disease can pass it to the baby developing in their womb. This is called congenital syphilis.
Syphilis is widespread in the United States. It mainly involves sexually active adults between ages 20 to 29.
Syphilis has several stages.
Primary syphilis is the first stage. Painless sores ( chancres ) form about 2-3 weeks after you are first infected. You may not notice the sores or any symptoms, particularly if the sores are inside the rectum or cervix. The sores disappear in about 4-6 weeks. For more specific information about this type of syphilis, see primary syphilis.
Secondary syphilis occurs about 2-8 weeks after the first sores form.
Syphilis - primary (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Syphilis is one of the more frequently diagnosed and reported sexually transmitted diseases. A chancre is the typical sore of primary syphilis. Reviewer: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/13/2006
Syphilis - secondary (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Secondary syphilis is the second stage of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis. This stage is the most contagious. Reviewer: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/22/2007
Syphilis - tertiary (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Tertiary syphilis is a late phase of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/08/2006
Genital sores - male(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A male genital sore is any sore or lesion that appears on the penis, scrotum, or male urethra. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, MD., MSc., DTM., Prof. Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Dept. of Human Biology, Stanford Univ. School of Medicine, Stanford, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
Genital sores - female (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Sores or lesions on the external female genitalia, or in the vagina, may have a number of possible causes. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 05/23/2006
Congenital syphilis(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant. Reviewer: Deirdre OReilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Childrens Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/08/2007
VDRL (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
VDRL is a screening test for syphilis that measures antibodies that can be produced by Treponema pallidum, the bacteria that causes syphilis. The test is similar to the newer rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test. Reviewer: Mark Levin, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Date: 06/18/2007
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