Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the bacteriaTreponema 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.
Syphilis - primary (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Syphilis is a frequently diagnosed sexually transmitted disease.Syphilis is a sexually transmitted, infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. This bacteria causes infection when it gets into broken skin or mucus membranes, us...Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/01/2008
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.Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/01/2008
Syphilis - tertiary (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Tertiary syphilis can follow the initial infection(primary syphilis) by 3 to 15 years.In tertiary syphilis, the infection-causing organisms have continued to grow for years. Pockets of damage, or lesions, affects various tissues such as the bones,...Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/01/2008
Genital sores - male(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A male genital sore is any sore or lesion that appears on the penis, scrotum, or male urethra.Symptoms may include itching, painful urination, drainage from the penis, or pain at the site of the sore. There may be one or many sores. 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 female genitalia or in the vagina may have a number of possible causes.Sores or lesions on the female genitalia are often caused by sexually transmitted infections(STIs).STIs that cause visible and fairly classic-appearing ...Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/02/2008
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.Congenital syphilis is caused by the organism Tre...Reviewer: Deirdre O?Reilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children?s 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.The test is usually performed on blood. If ...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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