title: Brief history of syphilis.
abstract: Before the discovery of Treponema pallidum as the etiologic agent, the origins of syphilis have been the subject of several debates. Diverse therapeutic agents were employed in an attempt to cure the disease. Examining the milestones in the history of syphilis, the present article reviews the existing theories that tried to explain the origins of the disease, the approach in art, the cultural and the evolution of the treatments from the empiric means to the discovery of penicillin.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampa
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, "Victor Babes" Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sarbu
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matei
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, "Victor Babes" Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benea
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Georgescu
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D013587:Syphilis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000266:history*; D014210:Treponema pallidum
keywords: history of syphilis; syphilis; syphilis treatment