Syphilis is a complex disease caused by Treponema pallidum Syphilis is a complex disease caused by Treponema pallidum . Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with a lesion, and from infected mother to baby during pregnancy.
Babies can become infected during a latent stage.
Primary lesions heal without treatment. Symptoms of secondary syphilis may include new lesions, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, and patchy hair loss. Skin rashes cover the whole body or appear in only a few areas. In time, symptoms disappear without treatment. Tertiary syphilis occurs 1-20 years after infection.