Infecciones por treponemas. Sífilis

Abstract

Syphilis is a disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. It is basically transmitted sexually. After infection, the bacteria multiply locally forming an ulcer (chancre) and thence systemic dissemination occurs. Without treatment, the evolution of syphilis can be divided into two stages: early (<1 year) and late (> 1 year) which in turn are subdivided into different phases with specific clinical manifestations. Primary syphilis and secondary syphilis are considered early clinical forms, while tertiary syphilis belongs to late stage. The invasion of the central nervous system by T. pallidum is termed as neurosyphilis and may occur at any stage. In the natural history of syphilis there is often an asymptomatic phase called latency. To support the diagnosis there are direct and indirect microbiological techniques. The former are useful only in the early stages. Penicillin remains the treatment of choice for syphilis at any stage.