Syphilis

Abstract

Syphilis is a globally occurring systemic infectious disease with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which is transmitted via sexual intercourse, intimate/sexual physical contact, or mother-to-child vertical transmission. Since 2010 there have been increasing incidences, including all Western European countries. More than 80% of new infections are due to sexual contact between men, of whom 30% are already infected with HIV. Owing to an increase in heterosexuals as well, cases of congenital syphilis are occurring again. The disease passes through different stages, manifests in different organs, and is characterized by various symptoms. In many cases, diagnosis in asymptomatic patients is randomly made at the late latency stage. Increasingly, neurological complications are being diagnosed in the context of early syphilis, mostly cranial nerve failures. Penicillin is still the therapy of choice; resistance has not occurred so far.