Syphilis Research Paper

Words: 2095
Pages: 9

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (CDC). Syphilis is spread by direct contact from person to person (CDC). The disease is transmitted to another person by contact with a syphilis sore, or chancre (CDC). The disease can be passed along via vaginal, oral, or anal sex (CDC). Babies can also be born with syphilis if their mother was infected and didn’t receive treatment during pregnancy (CDC).
Syphilis was introduced into this world in the late 1400’s (Frith). There were many names for this disease back in this time. The Japanese called the disease the “Chinese Pox”, Russia called the disease the “Polish disease,” and the French called it the “Spanish disease” (Frith). No one really knew where the disease came from, and everyone around the world pointed their fingers at other countries for the spread of the disease. Many military members were affected by this disease (Frith). Back in these times, there was no sexual education or “safe sex.”
There was a clinical study conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the United States Public Health Service to study the
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Other antibiotics that are used are Doxycycline and Tetracycline, for patients allergic to Penicillin (Vyas). The length of treatment depends on the severity of the case of syphilis (Vyas). The health of the patient plays a role in the length of treatment as well (Vyas). For an example, a patient with HIV has a compromised immune system. The length of treatment would be longer in a patient whose body has a weakened immune system. Patients who receive treatment in the primary stage of syphilis may experience the Jarisch-Herheimer reaction, according to Dr. Janit Vyas. “This reaction is caused by an immune response to the breakdown products of the infection,” says Dr. Vyas. The symptoms of this reaction include chills, fever, muscular and joint aches, nausea, and rash (Vyas). These symptoms from treatment normally subside within twenty-four