Syphilis: an infection caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum, usually transmitted through sexual exposure or from mother to child during pregnancy. Although effective treatment is available, testing must be done to identify the need for treatment before major complications develop.
Treatment Available: Doctors usually treat patients infected with syphilis by using penicillin. Usually, a person can no longer transmit syphilis after 24 hours from the start of treatment. It is important that people who were treated for syphilis be tested every so often to make sure they have cleared the infection.
Symptoms of Syphilis:
A single sore in the genital area called a chancre "shan-kar" which is usually colorless and painless - some people may experience multiple sores.
During secondary syphilis, a person may experience lesions on mucosal tissue and a rash on one or more area of the body (usually on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet).
Latent syphilis can cause damage oto the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, liver, joints, and bones.
