syphilis

n. bacterial disease that can be sexually transmitted

Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete. The route of transmission of syphilis is almost always by sexual contact. However, there are examples of congenital syphilis via transmission from mother to child in utero. The signs and symptoms of syphilis are numerous; before the advent of serological testing, precise diagnosis was very difficult. In fact, the disease was dubbed the "Great Imitator" because it was often confused with other diseases, particularly in its tertiary stage. Syphilis (unless antibiotic-resistant) can be easily treated with antibiotics including penicillin. The oldest, and still most effective method is an intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin. If not treated, syphilis can cause serious effects such as damage to the heart, aorta, brain, eyes, and bones. In some cases these effects can be fatal. In 1998, the complete genetic sequence of T. pallidum was published which may aid understanding of the pathogenesis of syphilis.
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Syphilis is an infectious systemic disease that may be either congenital or acquired through sexual contact or contaminated [more]Syphilis - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a common venereal disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
(synonym) syph, pox
(hypernym) venereal disease, VD, social disease, Cupid's itch, Cupid's disease, Venus's curse, sexually transmitted disease
(hyponym) primary syphilis
(part-meronym) chancre

n. syphilis, sexually transmitted venereal disease, lues