Syphilis: diagnosis, treatment and control. Rubem David Azulay. Syphilis is an infectious disease transmitted through sex or vertically during pregnancy. It is characterized by periods of activity and latency, disseminated systemic involvement, and progression to acute complications in patients that remain untreated or have been inadequately treated.
Syphilis is known since the 15th century and studied by all medical specialties, particularly by Dermatology. The etiologic agent Treponema pallidum has never been cultured and was described over years ago.
The disease has been effectively treated with penicillin since , but it remains an important health problem in developed and developing countries. Given its transmission characteristics, the condition has accompanied the behavioral changes in society in recent years and has become even more important due to the possibility of increasing the risk of transmitting acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. New laboratory tests and methods of control aimed at appropriate treatment of patients and their partners, use of condoms, and dissemination of information to the population comprise some measures to control syphilis adopted by health program organizers.
Keywords: Sexually transmitted diseases; Syphilis, congenital; Treponemal infections; Treponema pallidum. It affects practically all organs and systems, and in spite of having an efficacious and low-cost treatment, it continues as a public health problem until today.
Since it involves skin and mucous membranes in such a florid way, it has a strong link with dermatology Figure 1. Two theories have been drawn up in order to explain its origin. According to the first hypothesis, called the Colombian theory, syphilis was endemic in the New World and was introduced in Europe by Spanish sailors who had participated in the discovery of America.
