STD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

STD - Essay Example The spirochete Treponema pallidum (bacteria) is responsible for the said illness. This disease has the highest cases in urban populations, affecting persons with age 15-39, drug dependents, and those infected with HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Syphilis is usually acquired by humans through sexual contact. Infected mothers may transmit the infection to her fetus (prenatal syphilis). Moreover, if the disease is left untreated, it can progress into primary, secondary, latent and tertiary or late stage syphilis. Clinical signs and symptoms of syphilis depend on the stage of progression. Initially painless fluid-filled lesions or "small cancres" which may erupt on anus, genitalia, lips, tongue, fingers, nipples, eyelids or tonsils are observable then typically disappear 3 to 6 weeks after. About 8 weeks after, lesions or macules often erupt in areas of the trunk, soles, arms, palms, face and scalp. Other symptoms include anorexia, malaise, headache, nausea, weight loss, slight feve r and sore throat. Gumma, a deep or superficial nodule found in the bones, is one of the signs of late syphilis stage.