Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum . Unless treated, it can cause heart and brain damage, even death.
Pregnant women can pass the infection to their unborn babies.
Transmission can occur through blood transfusion if the donor is in the early stages of the disease, or by sharing needles with an infected person. Syphilis is characterized by progressive stages. Most people with syphilis are treated early and do not progress to the later stages. It disappears in three to five weeks, but if the disease is untreated, the person is still contagious and still has the disease. The person may have hair loss from the scalp, eyebrows, or pubic area.