Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease which is characterised by:

• minor early illness
• more serious late manifestations after a variable latent period

The infective agent is a spirochaete, treponema pallidum.

Syphilis is becoming increasingly common, especially amongst economically-deprived groups in the U.S.

Clinically there are four types of syphilis:

• primary
• secondary
• tertiary
• congenital