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Page: Syphilis
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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by spirochaete bacterium, Treponema pallidum. The disease has been known under many names.
The route of transmission of syphilis is typically by sexual contact. However, there are examples of:
* Congenital syphilis (transmission from mother to child in utero).
* Other non-sexual transmission, e.g. an obstetrician getting infected body secretion in an accidental cut.
The signs and symptoms of syphilis are numerous; before the advent of serological testing, diagnosis was more difficult and the disease was dubbed the "Great Imitator" because it was so often confused with other diseases.
Syphilis can be treated with penicillin or other antibiotics. Statistically, oral treatment is dramatically less effective than other treatments because patients tend not to complete the course. The oldest, and still most effective, method is to inject benzathine penicillin intramuscularly (procaine is added to reduce discomfort).
Another treatment is to administer several tablets of azithromycin (which has a long duration of action) orally under observation. This latter course may soon be obsolete, as strains of syphilis resistant to azithromycin have developed, and accounted for 56% of San Francisco infections in 2004. Other treatments are less effective as the patient is required to take pills several times a day.
If not treated, syphilis can cause serious effects such as damage to the nervous system, heart, brain, and/or eyes. Untreated syphilis can be fatal or affect vision.
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Important notice:
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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