The Treponemal Spirochete Treponemal Pallidum
Before penicillin syphilis was endemic throughout the world. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease but also can be transmitted congenitally or through blood contact. There are three stages: Primary, which is usually diagnosed by the appearance of a chancre on the penis, anal area, rectum, mouth, labia, cervix
Secondary, which can present as a macular, papular, papulosquamous, or pustular skin rash. Hair loss can occur as patches of hair loss on the scalp (alopecia areata), eye brows, or beard or can also occur as non patch hair loss. Large broad, moist pink, gray white highly infectious skin eruptions called condylomata lata can occur in warm moist skin folds, the perianal area, vulva, scrotum, inner thighs and skin under pendulous breasts,
On the tongue, lips, oral mucosa, palate, pharynx, vulva, vagina, glans penis, or inner prepuce a silver gray erosion mucous patch is seen in up to 15 percent of patients.
Tertiary syphilis can affect the heart, the brain to produce abnormal neuropsychological behavior, it can also affect the central nervous system
A condition called Tabes dorsalis causes damage to the spinal cord function. Famous syphilis patients Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856): Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890): James Joyce (1882 - 1941):
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