Syphilis"The great imitator" is a nickname for the syphilis disease. This is due to the disease acting as a mimic for the signs and symptoms of other diseases. It is a hard diagnoses for this reason. Syphilis' low incidence rate also makes it a difficult diagnoses. It is a sexual transmitted infection (STI) and is contracted via the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease has four stages with primary syphilis and secondary syphilis commonly being referenced as P&S. Other stages are a latent syphilis and tertiary syphilis. All stages can last for several years if help isn't sought. In the late stage or tertiary stage, severe health consequences aren't uncommon but common. To see syphilis photos and images of the different stages just click on the link but be warned, the photos are very graphic and will startle many. 
TransmissionThe disease is contracted via sexual contact with one exception. Congenital(existing or dating from birth) syphilis is acquired via translpacental transmission of T. pallidum. Sexual contact requires exposure to moist mucosal or cutaneous lesions of the primary or secondary spyhilis. Patients with untreated disease may apparently recover only to relapse over a period of up to two years. Therefore, a person may be able to transmit syphilis during the first year or two of untreated infection. The rate at which syphilis is acquired during sexual encounter is estimated at about 30% which is probably quite low. Thank goodness for that. Here is the theory on the origin of syphilis. |