Syphilis Mark Ayitey Period 8

What is Syphilis? Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases.

Symptoms of Syphilis Primary stage ◦begins with a sore (called a "chancre") on the skin that initially exposed to the infection -- usually the genitals, rectum or mouth. Secondary Stage ◦occurs several weeks after the chancre heals, once the bacteria have spread through the body, an individual may feel sick' common symptoms include headache, achiness, loss of appetite and maybe rash. The rash in secondary syphilis is usually reddish-brown in color, not itchy and widespread.

Is Syphilis curable? Syphilis is easy to cure in its early stages. A single intramuscular injection of penicillin, an antibiotic, will cure a person who has had syphilis for less than a year. Additional doses are needed to treat someone who has had syphilis for longer than a year. Treatment will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent further damage, but it will not repair damage already done.

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