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SYPHILIS
Syphilis, a venereal disease, caused by the micro-organism
Treponema pallidum is most often transmitted through sexual
contact, however it can also be passed from a mother to her
unborn baby. During the primary stage of this disease, a
painless ulcer develops at the site of 'germ-entrance' - usually
somewhere on the genitals, woman's cervix or in the mouth of
either sex. This ulcer generally heals with time, but the
sufferer then goes on to develop secondary syphilis, which
produces generalised symptoms such as, headaches, sore throat,
high temperatures, rashes and mouth ulcers. The disease is at
it's most infectious during this stage.
If left untreated, the primary symptoms will eventually subside
however the disease then remains dormant inside the body for as
long as 4-20 years, often resulting in serious problems of the
brain, skin and heart, and many developing blindness.
In the case of congenital syphilis, where the baby contracted
the disease whilst still in the uterus, the outcome is often
disastrous, with many such babies either being born dead, deaf,
blind or otherwise severely handicapped.
Treatment:
When diagnosed early, syphilis responds well to treatment,
which is usually in the form of an injection of long-acting
penicillin. In the case of the pregnant mother, early treatment
may well prevent infection of her unborn baby.
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