title: Syphilis.
abstract: Inoculation of Treponema pallidum during intimate physical contact is followed by development of a papule that rapidly erodes, yielding the syphilitic chancre. Hematogenous dissemination results in secondary syphilis, a multisystem disease characterized by skin rash, lymph node enlargement, hepatitis, arthritis, and central nervous system involvement. In the absence of treatment, a latent period is reached after which tertiary syphilis may appear in an increasing proportion of patients, depending upon the duration of the follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Musher
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013587:Syphilis