Syphilis Research Paper
SYPHILIS
“THE GREAT IMITATOR”
Syphilis is known as a bacterial infection that is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. The primary way of transmitting this infection is through sexual contact, but may also be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth which results in congentital syphilis.
The exact origin of syphilis is unknown, but has been studied over the years and two interesting hypotheses have arisen. The first is that it was carried from the Americas to Europe from Christopher Columbus and his crew and the second is that syphilis must have been in Europe previously but went completely unrecognized. These have been also referred as the “Columbian” and “Pre-Columbian” hypotheses. But as of late 2011 it was validated that the …show more content…
Syphilis has been believed to have affected approximately 12 million people. 90% of these cases are in the developing world and affects between 700,000 – 1.6 million pregnancies a year which results in stillbirths and congential syphilis. Rates are higher in intravenous drug users and are also infected with HIV which can make the disease worse. Syphilis is six times higher in the male population than in the females and African Americans have accounted for more than half of these cases as of 2010.
Treatment of syphilis is a single dose of intramuscular penicillin G or oral azithromycin. This will be taken in early stages of the infection if it has been caught on early. If the person has only come to knowing of the infection in the late stages they are recommended to take large doses of intravenous penicillin for a minimum of 10 days. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, ceftriaxone may be
“THE GREAT IMITATOR”
Syphilis is known as a bacterial infection that is caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. The primary way of transmitting this infection is through sexual contact, but may also be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth which results in congentital syphilis.
The exact origin of syphilis is unknown, but has been studied over the years and two interesting hypotheses have arisen. The first is that it was carried from the Americas to Europe from Christopher Columbus and his crew and the second is that syphilis must have been in Europe previously but went completely unrecognized. These have been also referred as the “Columbian” and “Pre-Columbian” hypotheses. But as of late 2011 it was validated that the …show more content…
Syphilis has been believed to have affected approximately 12 million people. 90% of these cases are in the developing world and affects between 700,000 – 1.6 million pregnancies a year which results in stillbirths and congential syphilis. Rates are higher in intravenous drug users and are also infected with HIV which can make the disease worse. Syphilis is six times higher in the male population than in the females and African Americans have accounted for more than half of these cases as of 2010.
Treatment of syphilis is a single dose of intramuscular penicillin G or oral azithromycin. This will be taken in early stages of the infection if it has been caught on early. If the person has only come to knowing of the infection in the late stages they are recommended to take large doses of intravenous penicillin for a minimum of 10 days. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, ceftriaxone may be