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. Symptoms include meningitis, loss of reflexes, clumsy walk, pins and needles pain, joint disease, tumors and heart disease. Many pregnancies of infected females result in miscarriage or stillbirth.