What disease is caused by Treponema pallidum?
Daniel Johnson
Published Mar 13, 2026
What disease is caused by Treponema pallidum?
Vivien Williams: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Dr. Stacey Rizza, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic, says syphilis affects men and women and can present in various stages.
What is Treponema disease?
The endemic treponemal diseases, consisting of yaws, bejel (endemic syphilis) and pinta, are non-venereal infections closely related to syphilis, and are recognized by WHO as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 1. Each disease is caused by an organism of the genus Treponema; yaws by T.
What are the symptoms of Treponema pallidum?
The rash usually won’t itch and it is sometimes so faint that you won’t notice it. Other symptoms you may have can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue (feeling very tired).
Is Treponema pallidum sexually transmitted?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can cause serious health sequelae if not adequately treated.
Can I get syphilis from kissing?
Second, kissing can also transmit syphilis, which may present as an oral chancre. T pallidum can invade mucous membranes through abrasion. Therefore, oral chancre can result from kissing with a syphilis patient. Therefore, kissing with a syphilis patient should also be avoided in order to block the infection.
What does syphilis look like on a man?
A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or sores at the original site of infection. These sores usually occur on or around the genitals, around the anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. These sores are usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless.
How is syphilis diagnosed?
Syphilis can be diagnosed by testing samples of: Blood. Blood tests can confirm the presence of antibodies that the body produces to fight infection. The antibodies to the syphilis-causing bacteria remain in your body for years, so the test can be used to determine a current or past infection.
How does Treponema pallidum enter the body?
Nine out of 10 cases of syphilis transmission occur during sexual intercourse, although it can also be introduced into an open wound in the skin. Fortunately, only about 1 in 10 people exposed to the bacterium develops syphilis.
What is male syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes infected sores, blisters or ulcers on your genitals, anus (bottom) or mouth. It’s normally passed on through sex without a condom or by sharing sex toys with someone who has the infection.
Can you get STD from kissing?
Although kissing is considered to be low-risk when compared to intercourse and oral sex, it’s possible for kissing to transmit CMV, herpes, and syphilis. CMV can be present in saliva, and herpes and syphilis can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, particularly at times when sores are present.