Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a spirochaete bacterium, Treponema pallidum. Syphilis has many alternate names, including "lues", "syph", "the Pox" (or "great pox", to distinguish it from smallpox), and the "French disease." The route of transmission of syphilis is almost invariably by sexual contact; however, there are examples of direct contact infections (see yaws) and of congenital syphilis (transmission from mother to child in utero). The signs and symptoms ...