Today we will get to know more closely one of the most important sexually transmitted diseases, known since the sixteenth century, but still relevant today. I'm talking about syphilis. Syphilis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. The infection is mainly transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to fetus during pregnancy or childbirth. After contagion, the bacterium is present in the patient's blood and in all other body secretions, but above all it concentrates at the level of the lesions it causes in the skin and genitals. As we will see in more detail in the next video, syphilis develops in various stages, each of which is characterized by different symptoms and course. After a first onset without obvious symptoms, the disease manifests itself with skin and genital lesions, accompanied by flu-like symptoms. In the absence of adequate diagnosis and therapy, a progressive evolution of the infection is possible. Serious damage to multiple organs and systems, such as skin, heart and skeleton, can therefore occur. In its final stage, syphilis damages the central nervous system causing mental confusion, dementia and progressive paralysis. Fortunately, thanks to the availability of valid diagnostic methods and the high efficacy of the antibiotic therapy, syphilis is now a controllable and treatable infection. However, in recent years, after a long period of regression, syphilis has once again spread to Italy as well. Not only that: syphilitic lesions have also paved the way for HIV infections, favoring the emergence of AIDS.
Syphilis holds a special place in history. It is, in fact, a pathology that has been known for a very long time and also known as LUE, a term that derives from the Latin “lues” which means epidemic or pestilence. The term "syphilis" was coined by the scholar and scientist Gerolamo Fracastoro in the first half of 1500. In his work "Syphilis sive de morbo gallico", it tells of the shepherd Sifilo who, after having offended Apollo, was punished with a terrible disfiguring disease and who it will take its name from him. As for the popular tradition, it is said that this highly contagious disease was introduced in Europe by the sailors of Christopher Columbus, returning from the discovery of the New World. From the sailors the disease would be transmitted to some Neapolitan prostitutes, who in turn would have infected the soldiers of the army of Charles VIII. Since then, syphilis was called, for at least two centuries, "Gallic disease" or "French malady", while in France it was known as "Neapolitan disease." The fact that a sex-related disease could induce such devastating effects immediately struck the collective imagination and had important consequences on social life and sexual behavior of the time. from the abstinence prescribed to the sick, the condom was introduced as one of the "official" prevention measures. Year after year, syphilis continued to present the characteristics of a serious epidemic, at least until the first half of the twentieth century. years, the discovery of penicillin transformed syphilis into a treatable disease. Before that, therapeutic measures were limited to isolating the infected subject and using the "ointment". hercurial, then in vogue for skin diseases but burdened with important side effects. Not surprisingly, in reference to syphilis, the saying “One night with Venus and all life with Mercury” was in vogue.
Syphilis holds a special place in history. It is, in fact, a pathology that has been known for a very long time and also known as LUE, a term that derives from the Latin “lues” which means epidemic or pestilence. The term "syphilis" was coined by the scholar and scientist Gerolamo Fracastoro in the first half of 1500. In his work "Syphilis sive de morbo gallico", it tells of the shepherd Sifilo who, after having offended Apollo, was punished with a terrible disfiguring disease and who it will take its name from him. As for the popular tradition, it is said that this highly contagious disease was introduced in Europe by the sailors of Christopher Columbus, returning from the discovery of the New World. From the sailors the disease would be transmitted to some Neapolitan prostitutes, who in turn would have infected the soldiers of the army of Charles VIII. Since then, syphilis was called, for at least two centuries, "Gallic disease" or "French malady", while in France it was known as the "Neapolitan disease." The fact that a sex-related disease could induce such devastating effects immediately struck the collective imagination and had important consequences on social life and sexual behavior of the time. from the abstinence prescribed to the sick, the condom was introduced as one of the "official" prevention measures. Year after year, syphilis continued to present the characteristics of a serious epidemic, at least until the first half of the twentieth century. years, the discovery of penicillin transformed syphilis into a treatable disease. Before that, therapeutic measures were limited to isolating the infected subject and using the ointment. hercurial, then in vogue for skin diseases but burdened with important side effects. Not surprisingly, in reference to syphilis, the saying “One night with Venus and all life with Mercury” was in vogue.
As anticipated, the Treponema Pallidum it is present in all body fluids of infected people, in particular in sexual ones, therefore in sperm and vaginal and precoital secretions. For this reason, the transmission of the infection occurs mainly through unprotected sexual intercourse, both genital, oral or anal, consumed with an infected and contagious person. As we have seen, in addition to sexual fluids, the bacterium is also abundantly present in lesions caused by syphilis, present in the skin, genital and mucous membranes in general, including that of the mouth. Syphilis is therefore also transmitted with direct contact with wounds or ulcers present in the areas where the disease mainly occurs. Since some of these injuries are often painless, it can happen that the person is not aware that they have syphilis, thus risking infecting their partner. For this reason, it is very important that occasional sexual intercourse is consumed with the correct use of condoms. During pregnancy, syphilis can be transmitted to the fetus via the placenta, therefore through the infected maternal blood, or at the moment of passage through the birth canal. In these cases we speak of congenital syphilis, while when the infection is contracted after birth we speak of acquired syphilis. Occasionally, the disease can also be transmitted through transfusions. However, this mode of contagion is now very rare and mostly limited to countries where the blood is not sufficiently controlled before transfusion. Finally, transmission indirectly is unlikely, i.e. through contact with objects, dishes or clothing used by a sick person. As we have seen, the Treponema pallidum, in fact, it is poorly resistant in the environment, so it dies quickly outside the body.
