Or Treponema Palladium. Syphilis Or Treponema Palladium.

What is Syphilis? Syphilis is an STI created by a bacterium called “Treponema Palladium.” It has been often called “ The Great Imitator” because it has so many signs and symptoms that are indistinguishable from those other diseases.

Symptoms. The symptoms of Syphilis come in four stages Primary: A sore appears on the rectum, mouth, or genital Secondary: Headaches, achiness, loss of appetite, and possibly a rash Tertiary: Fever, skin ulcers, bone pain, liver disease, anemia, and heart disease Latent: Begins when primary and secondary symptoms disappear. Even though there are no signs or symptoms; infection remains in the body. Can appear 10–20 years after infection was first acquired There is no difference of symptoms between men and women The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore (called a chancre), but there may be multiple sores. The time between infection with syphilis and the start of the first symptom can range from 10 to 90 days (average 21 days). The chancre is usually firm, round, small, and painless. It appears at the spot where syphilis entered the body. The chancre lasts 3 to 6 weeks, and it heals without treatment. However, if adequate treatment is not administered, the infection progresses to the secondary stage. The latent (hidden) stage of syphilis begins when primary and secondary symptoms disappear. Without treatment, the infected person will continue to have syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms; infection remains in the body. This latent stage can last for years.  The late stages of syphilis can develop in about 15% of people who have not been treated for syphilis, and can appear 10–20 years after infection was first acquired. Signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.

Tracking it down. An RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) is a blood test for syphilis that looks for an antibody inside the bloodstream whether the bacteria is active or not and what stage is it at. A negative (nonreactive) RPR is compatible with a person not having syphilis, but in the early stages of the disease, the RPR often gives false negative results. Such as Hepatitis A, Malaria, Lupus etc.

Treatment. The treatment for treatment for syphilis is an antibiotic called Penicillin. It’s a single injection that will cure syphilis with less than a year. For people who are allergic to Penicillin, there are other treatments that can cure syphilis. This will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent any further damage. However, it can’t repair the damage that has been done to the body.

If not treated……. If left untreated, the infection can go on for years and will become undetectable by the RPR blood test. The disease may subsequently damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints.

Preventions & Transmissions. Syphilis is passed from a person to person by direct from a syphilis sore. Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the baby. It can’t be passed through non-sexual content. Ex: toilet seat, doorknob etc. People with syphilis must be restrained from sexual content. Abstain yourself from it or use a latex condom. Any exposed body part must be washed with soap and water. This includes both men and women.

Other facts. Around 155,000 people worldwide die from syphilis every year. Without treatment, 20-30% of people between ages of 15-20 years will die from syphilis. Syphilis was the most common STI for the invention of Penicillin; in the 1940’s, 73 of 100,000 had syphilis.

Pictures of Syphilis.