1. Syphilis: The Great Pox
Jordan Best

2. Syphilis is caused by an infection of the bacteria Treponema pallidum
Primarily sexually transmitted
Vertical transmission is also possible when the mother is untreated

3. T. pallidum rapidly enters the bloodstream and becomes systemic

4. Primary Syphilis involves formation of “chancres” at site of infection
Appear 2-3 weeks post-infection
Without treatment, symptoms typically disappear in 4-6 week

5. Secondary Syphilis is characterized by lesions of mucous membranes and skin
Appears 4-6 weeks after Primary stage
Marked by an invasion of the CNS by T. pallidum

6. Latent Stage Syphilis can remain asymptomatic for decades
Host remains infectious during this stage

7. Tertiary Syphilis adversely affects a wide variety of tissue and can be debilitating or fatal
Brain, heart, nervous system, liver, eyes, vascular system
Causes blindness, paralysis, mental illness, and death

8. In early stages, the disease is easily cured with a single intramuscular antibiotic injection
Later-stage infections must be monitored through blood testing for several years post-treatment

9. Azithromycin-resistant strains began to appear in the late 1990’s.
Prevalence of resistant strands in San Francisco has increased from 0% in 2000 to 56% in 2004

10. Developing nations are especially afflicted by syphilis
12 million new cases per year. 90% in developing countries. Congenital syph causes perinatal deaths every year in sub-Saharan Africa 

11. One of the few diseases to spread to Europe from the New World
Thought to originate from yaws roughly 1,600 years ago
First European syphilis epidemic in 1495

12. Many historical figures died from syphilis
Christopher Columbus
Napoleon Bonaparte
Al Capone
King Henry VIII

13. References