High School

STD
By: Monica D. Dixon
Syphilis is a sexually
transmitted disease
(STD) caused by a
bacterium (Treponema
palladium). The initial
infection causes an
ulcer at the site of
infection.
Transmission

In an infected person the bacterium spreads

from the initial ulcer to the skin or mucous
membranes of:

the anus of a sexual partner

the genital area

the mouth

The bacterium can pass through broken skin on

parts of the body.

The syphilis bacterium is very fragile and

infection is usually spread by

an infected pregnant woman who can pass the

bacterium to her unborn baby, which can result
in the child being born with serious mental and
physical problems

sexual contact
The disease is divided into
four stages:

Primary

Secondary

Latent

Tertiary (late)
Even though untreated syphilis
is not contagious in the late
stage serious complications
can occur:

blindness

mental disorders

neurological problems

serious heart abnormalities

death
Syphilis Up Close!
Rash Caused By Syphilis

Syphilis Rash on Hands..

Syphilis Rash On Feet..
First stage

An ulcer (a chancre) appears within 10 days to 3

months after exposure, but usually within 2-6 weeks

The chancre may be painless and can remain

undetected inside the body, so may go unnoticed

The chancre usually appears on the part of the body

exposed to the partner’s ulcer, such as:

the anus

the cervix

the lips

the penis

the tongue

the vagina

the vulva

other parts of the body

Secondary syphilis

The most common symptoms include:

a rash of flat, red lesions over the

whole body (including the palms of the
hands and soles of the feet)

fever

swollen glands

broad-based papules (lumps or

warts) in warm, moist sites

mucous patches or snail-track

ulcers in the mouth, appearing from 3-
6 weeks after the chancre develops
Latent stage syphilis

A stage of infection caused by T.

pallidum in which organisms persist in
the infected person's body without
causing symptoms or signs.

Latent syphilis is subdivided into:

Early

initial infection occurring within the

previous 12 months

Late

initial infection has occurred greater

than 1 year previously)
Tertiary (Late) syphilis

A minority (up to 30%) of individuals

with untreated syphilis may develop
tertiary syphilis with lesions many
years after the initial infection.

The lesions can be benign, causing no

serious disability, or they may involve
the:

brain

eyes

nervous system

joints

spinal cord (neurosyphilis)

Treatment…
Syphilis is treated with penicillin, usually
administered by injection. A person no
longer usually transmits syphilis 24
hours after beginning treatment.

Some people, however, do not respond

to the usual doses of penicillin,
therefore, it is important that people
being treated for syphilis have periodic
blood tests to check that the bacteria
has been completely destroyed.
Methods of prevention include:

screening and treatment of infected

individuals, or secondary prevention, is
needed to halt advanced stages.

using condoms during sex

Testing and treatment early in pregnancy as a

routine part of prenatal care is the best way
to prevent congenital syphilis in infants.
Health personnel working with the newborn
should be aware of cases and notify the
appropriate authorities, within 72 hours of
discovery, who will give care and follow-up
treatment.

Early detection and treatment of syphilis is

essential in order to have a significant impact
on slowing the occurrence of this potentially
fatal disease.
References:

www.healthline.com/channel/syphilis.h
tml

http://herpes-coldsores.com/std/syph
ilis.htm

www.avert.org/syphilis.htm