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Book

Syphilis (Nursing)

Maria E. Tudor  1 , Ahmad M. Al Aboud  2 , Stephen W. Leslie  3 , William Gossman  4 , Lisa M. Haddad  5
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Syphilis (Nursing)

Maria E. Tudor et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Syphilis is a systemic, bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Due to its many protean clinical manifestations, it has been named the “great imitator and mimicker.” The origin of syphilis has been controversial and under great debate, and many theories have been postulated regarding this.

The pre-Columbian theory looked at findings on skeletal markers of syphilis before 1490. However, there is insufficient proof, as evidenced by the DNA and paleopathology findings, to support the existence of syphilis before 1492.

The Columbian and most accepted theory postulates that syphilis came from Europe in the 1490s when Columbus arrived in the New World (America). Syphilis spread when Christopher Columbus arrived in Naples (Italy). After Naples lost the battle to the French troops, this new disease spread across Europe.

Syphilis remains a contemporary plague that continues to afflict millions of people worldwide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Maria Tudor declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Ahmad Al Aboud declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Stephen Leslie declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: William Gossman declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Lisa Haddad declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Lopez P, Kwentoh I, Valdez Imbert M. A Peculiar Presentation of Syphilis as a Mysterious Rash: A Dermatological Dilemma. Cureus. 2023 Sep;15(9):e45328. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tampa M, Sarbu I, Matei C, Benea V, Georgescu SR. Brief history of syphilis. J Med Life. 2014 Mar 15;7(1):4-10. - PMC - PubMed
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    1. THE WASSERMAN TEST FOR SYPHILIS IN PRACTICE. Cal State J Med. 1910 Aug;8(8):252-3. - PMC - PubMed

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