1. Syphilis
Beth Porter
Mr. Holley
H.I. Period 3
12 November 2010

2. What is it?
Syphilis:
• “Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) resulting
from infection by Treponema palladum.” (Adler)
• “Syphilis is a serious but curable infection caused by
bacteria” (Winters)
• The wormlike bacterium that causes syphilis, for example,
likes to burrow into the moist mucous membranes of human
beings’ mouths or genital areas. (Winters)

3. Symptoms
• “Initial exposure to the organism during sexual
intercourse results in formation of a painless skin
lesion” (Adler)
• “A second stage (secondary syphilis) often appears
within two months following regression of the
chancre. Symptoms are often described as flulike,
with malaise, headache, fever, and joint aches. A skin
rash often appears, covering most of the body. Sores
may develop in the mouth and throat and on many of
the mucous membranes in the body.” (Adler)

4. How do you get syphilis?
• “You can get syphilis by coming into contact with
a person who already has the disease” (Winters)
• “Syphilis is spread when one person’s infected
area, usually an open sore, touches the soft skin
of the mucous membrane found inside or around
another person’s genital or anal areas, or in or
around the mouth.” (Winters)

5. Preventing Syphilis
• To prevent Syphilis You should wear a
latex condom and always use safe sex.
You can never be completely safe from
syphilis because it can be transmitted
from open soars. Another option is to be
abstinent.

6. How to treat it
•“Penicillin is the preferred method of
treatment for both primary and
secondary syphilis.” (Adler)

7. Journal
What do you know about your assigned
STD and about STDs in general?
I don’t know anything about syphilis except that it is
a sexually transmitted disease that you don’t want to
get. I know that STDs are very bad and there are
many different types. Some of them are viruses and
are not treatable. There are also some are infections,
and are treatable. STDs are scary because they can
change your whole life. Some are even fatal, which
makes it sad because they are mostly preventable.

8. Works Cited
• Winters, Adam. "Syphilis." Teen Health and Wellness.
Rosen, 2010. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.teenhealthandwellness.com/article/318/syph
ilis->.
• Adler, Richard. "Syphilis." Magills Medical Guide. Ed.
Tracy Irons-Georges, 4th rev. ed. 5 vols. Pasadena,
Calif.: Salem Press, 2008. Salem Health Web. 12 Nov.
2010.
<http://health.salempress.com/doi/full/10.3331/1
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