Syphilis

Syphilis is caused by the organism Treponema pallidum and is usually transmitted via sexual contact. It can also be transmitted from mother to child (congenital syphilis). It is curable; left untreated, however, it can lead to irreversible neurological and cardiac damage. At the outset, it is a characteristic canker sore and then goes systemic if untreated. The disease is characterized by periods of latency, often longer than 20 years. These features, together with the fact that T. pallidum often cannot be isolated in culture, mean that serological techniques play a major role in diagnosing syphilis and in treatment followup.