/-------------------/\-------------------\ | Syphilis: / \ | | / 6 \ A production | | Effects of | 1 | of | | | 8 | | | and |----| Dirty Bird's | | | 3 | Nest BBS | | General | 9 | 150 MB | | | 7 | (A real BBS) | | Information |----| | | | 7 | Written by: | | | 6 | Suicidal | | | 8 | Maniac | | \ 7 / | | \ / | \-------------------\/-------------------/ SYPHILIS Syphilis is caused by a corkscrew-shaped germ called treponema pallidum. In most cases, the germs enter the body through breaks in the moist surfaces of the sex organs or other areas. Syphilis occurs in four main stages: 1-> primary, 2-> secondary, 3-> latent, and 4-> late. The symptoms of primary syphilis develop about three weeks after infection. A small sore called a chancre appears in the area where the germs entered the body. The infected person may not notice the chancre, which disappears in a few weeks. Secondary syphilis occurs 6 weeks to 6 months later. At that time, the victim may feel ill and develop a rash and fever. The rash may be unnoticed, and all the symptoms disappear within several weeks. There are no symptoms during the latent stage, and a blood test is then the only way of finding the disease. If the condition is not treated, late syphilis will occur within 10 to 30 years. During late syphilis, the bacteria may attack the brain, heart, skin, spinal cord, or other party of the body. At this stage, the disease can cause blindness, deafness, heart disease, insanity, or paralysis. A pregnant woman who has syphilis but is not treated can and most likely will pass it to her unborn child. The woman may have a miscarriage, or the infant may die upon birth. If the baby lives, it may be born with the disease. If syphilis is treated during the first three stages, it can be cured easily with penicillin or other antibiotics. During the late stage, treatment can prevent the disease from becoming worse, but probably cannot cure it.