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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacteria (Treponema pallidum). The syphilis bacteria spread from the sores of an infected person to the mucous membranes of the genital area, the mouth, or the anus of a sexual partner. It can also pass through broken skin on other parts of the body. The syphilis bacterium is very fragile and is rarely, if ever, spread by contact with objects such as toilet seats or towels. An infected pregnant woman can pass the bacteria to her unborn child, who may be born with serious mental and physical problems as a result of this infection.

The most common way to get syphilis is through sexual intercourse with an infected individual. As is the case for other STDs, high risk factors for contracting syphilis include:

having multiple sex partners
having sexual relations with an infected partner
having a history of STDs
failure to use condoms as a barrier against infection

The disease goes through four stages as the bacteria moves to different organs in the body. During the early stages, the symptoms of syphilis can be very minor; later, when it is no longer contagious, untreated syphilis can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurological problems, and even death. There is growing concern about the increased susceptibility to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, for those in the early stages of syphilis, if they have sex with someone infected with HIV.