SYPHILIS

DEFINITION

Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. Occasionally, the disease can be passed to another person through prolonged kissing or close bodily contact. Although this disease is spread from sores, the vast majority of those sores go unrecognized. The infected person is often unaware of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to his or her sexual partner.

It is caused by a spirochete and is acquired through sexual contact. It may also be congenital in nature.

ETIOLOGIC AGENT
The infection is caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum.

* T. pallidum has no other host but man. * From a fresh smear taken from a lesion, T. pallidum appears as a shiny, twirling thread twisting its way in a wave-like corkscrew motion through the debris in the smear. * it is believed that the spirochete can pass through the mucosa even through a crack on its surface may not be visible at the site of entry.
4. The organism is also able to pass through the plancenta and infect the developing fetus within the body of a syphilitic mother.
5. The spirochete does not withstand drying, but withstand considerable temperature variation.
6. Based on studies, the organism has been found alive in a drinking glass a half-hour after the glass has been rinsed with cold water.
SOURCES OF INFECTION * Discharges from ovious or concealed lesions of the skin or mucous membranes. * The semen, blood, tears and urine of infected persons. * Mucous discharges from the nose, eyes, genital tract or bowels * Surface lesions contain spirochetes in very high numbers.
INCUBATION PERIOD
The incubation perion is from 10-90 days. The average is three weeks.

PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY
The period of communicability is variable and indefinite.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION * The disease can