Syphilis

Syphilis, highly contagious venereal disease, caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum, and characterized by a variety of lesions (chancres, mucous patches, and skin ulcers) at the point of infection. If untreated, syphilis can cause degeneration of the central nervous system resulting in death. It is most often transmitted by sexual contact, but can also be passed on by transfusions of infected blood. Once a widespread cause of death, syphilis is now relatively easily treatable with penicillin, if detected before major damage to the nervous system occurs.

See also: Venereal disease.