Syphilis - A Bacterial Infection Called the Great Imitator

Syphilis or The Great Imitator is caused by a bacteria called Treponeum palladium. T. palladium belongs to a group of bacteria that are cork-screw shaped and are referred to as spirochetes. Other bacteria in this group cause Lyme disease, Relapsing fever and Leptospirosis. They all have a three phase life cycle like Syphilis.

waterproof membrane

Syphilis is acquired through contact with infected mucus membranes. Mucus membranes that can be infected on our body are the mouth and lips, vagina, penis and rectum. The eye can be infected also and for many years when syphilis was a bigger problem all newborns were treated with silver nitrate in each eye to prevent infection. Therefore, Syphilis can be acquired through unprotected oral, vaginal and rectal sex and during birth if the mother has an active infection.

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Syphilis can not be acquired through shaking hands, or from door knobs, swimming pools, shared clothing or toilet seats. To become infected your mucus membrane must contact an infected sore on another persons mucus membrane.

Because the mucus membrane ulcers are painless the infected individual can ignore them. A surprising number of people do just that. If the ulcers are left untreated they will resolve in 3-6 weeks. The incubation period from exposure until an ulcer appears is 10-90 days but three weeks is more common.

If the first or primary phase is not adequately treated, then a second phase will begin while the ulcers are healing or several weeks after they are healed. The second phase begins with a rash. The rash my be quite noticeable or very light but will appear on the palms and soles. Rashes on the palms and soles are rare and usually a tip to something unusual. In addition to rash, the second phase of Syphilis can be associated with fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and may appear to be another illness. Diffuse fungal infection can appear like this and often the infected person is carrying a skin fungus also. The picture can be confusing and if the person is not very honest about their sexual behavior can take some time and various tests to make a diagnosis.

Syphilis is diagnosed with a blood test called and RPR or and STS. It is very accurate. Treatment is by injectable antibiotics. Depending on the phase and duration of the infection this could be a single dose or multiple doses over a period of time.

Syphilis - A Bacterial Infection Called the Great Imitator

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