Parental Guidance is

recommended.
Other Name
- Pox
- Scab
- Syph
- The Great Masquerader
 Treponema
pallidum
IVE
T
A T *Spirochete
S
U EN
A
C G *Slender
A
*Spiral-
shaped
*Like a cork
screw
 U BA T I ON
INC
PE R I OD

10 to 90 days
3 weeks in average
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
• DIRECT CONTACT with lesions, body
secretions, mucous membrane,
blood, semen, saliva and vaginal
discharges during sexual contact
• BLOOD TRANSFUSION
• TRANSPLACENTALLY from mother to
fetus.
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES:
1. Darkfield Microscopy
2. Venereal Disease Research
Laboratory serum test (VDRL)
3. Fluorescent treponemal antibody
absorption test (FTA-Abs)
4. Microhemagglutin Assay for
Treponema Pallidum (MHA-TP)
5. Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
Stages of
Syphilis
1. PRIMARY SYPHILIS
• Appearance of CHANCRE, first sign of syphilis
• Appears on the site of entry or inoculation
• Most often in genitalia, lips, nipples and hands, and
in the oral cavity, anus and rectum.
• TYPICAL APPEARANCE: Painless, indurated, smooth
weeping lesions.
2. SECONDARY SYPHILIS
• 6 weeks to 6 months after primary syphilis
• Systemic disease; spirochetes circulate in the
bloodstream
• SIGNS&SYMPTOMS: Influenza-like symptoms;
GENERALIZED RASHES [palms and soles of feet]
3. LATENT SYPHILIS
A. EARLY LATENT: occur during first year after
infection and infectious lesions can recur.
B. LATE LATENT: more than 1 year in duration
after infection; not infectious except for
fetus of pregnant woman
4. TERTIARY SYPHILIS
• Occur 4 to 20 years
• “The Great Masquerader”
• SIGNS&SYMPTOMS: Benign Lesions;
Cardiovascular Syphilis; Neurosyphilis
 TREATMENT
Drug of Choice:

Benzyl Penicillin G
IM, 2.4 million unit dosage

*Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
 E N TI ON
P R E V
1. EDUCATION – most important
aspect of prevention

“Do not assume that a person is

not sexually active because of
his or her age, profession or
religion.”
2. Safe sex practices
3. Abstinence
4. Decreasing the number of
sexual partners
 THE END.
Thank you for
listening.