🦠 Microbiology & Infectious Disease🟢 BasicSexually Transmitted Infections

Syphilis

A sexually transmitted infection caused by a spiral bacterium, which if untreated passes through several stages over years.

Key points

Syphilis is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Treponema pallidum, spread mainly by sexual contact and from mother to baby.
Primary syphilis is a single, painless, firm ulcer (a chancre) at the site of infection, which heals on its own.
Secondary syphilis, weeks later, gives a widespread rash including the palms and soles, and moist wart-like lesions.
After a hidden (latent) stage, tertiary syphilis can damage the heart, the brain and other organs years later.
A baby infected in the womb can develop congenital syphilis, with a range of serious problems.

Memory trick

Syphilis (Treponema pallidum; sexual or mother-to-child): primary is a painless chancre; secondary is a rash including palms and soles plus wart-like lesions; latent; tertiary damages heart, brain and organs years later; congenital in the baby.

All of Dermatology More Microbiology & Infectious Disease

Next in Dermatology · Microbiology & Infectious Disease

Loading…

🦠 Microbiology & Infectious Disease🟢 BasicSexually Transmitted Infections

Syphilis

A sexually transmitted infection caused by a spiral bacterium, which if untreated passes through several stages over years.

Key points

Syphilis is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Treponema pallidum, spread mainly by sexual contact and from mother to baby.
Primary syphilis is a single, painless, firm ulcer (a chancre) at the site of infection, which heals on its own.
Secondary syphilis, weeks later, gives a widespread rash including the palms and soles, and moist wart-like lesions.
After a hidden (latent) stage, tertiary syphilis can damage the heart, the brain and other organs years later.
A baby infected in the womb can develop congenital syphilis, with a range of serious problems.

Memory trick

All of Dermatology More Microbiology & Infectious Disease