Q. What do you mean by syphilis?

The Syphilis, as well known as lues, is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Before the invention of penicillin, syphilis was a fatal disease. Nowadays, the use of antibiotics can cure the disease completely. The Patients with primary syphilis present a single and painless wound in the skin, sometimes called as chancre, and in the region where the treponema has penetrated the chancre is highly infective. Syphilis is one of the major STDs, sexually transmitted diseases. In general the chancre develops in the penis, vagina, hands or mouth, anus, and the bacteria are often transmitted by sexual contact, afterwards syphilis develops into systemic diseases, secondary and tertiary syphilis.

The Syphilis can also be transmitted by accidents with contaminated objects, blood transfusions and vertically from the mother to the child (congenital syphilis). It is extremely vital for patients with the disease to seek treatment as soon as possible and to undergo tests to look for other STDs, like HPV and HIV infections.