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Syphilis

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Braun-Falco´s Dermatology

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Abstract

Syphilis is a globally occurring systemic infectious disease with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which is transmitted via sexual intercourse, intimate/sexual physical contact, or mother-to-child vertical transmission. Since 2010 there have been increasing incidences, including all Western European countries. More than 80% of new infections are due to sexual contact between men, of whom 30% are already infected with HIV. Owing to an increase in heterosexuals as well, cases of congenital syphilis are occurring again. The disease passes through different stages, manifests in different organs, and is characterized by various symptoms. In many cases, diagnosis in asymptomatic patients is randomly made at the late latency stage. Increasingly, neurological complications are being diagnosed in the context of early syphilis, mostly cranial nerve failures. Penicillin is still the therapy of choice; resistance has not occurred so far.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Alexandra Geusau

Authors
  1. Alexandra Geusau
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Correspondence to Alexandra Geusau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Gerd Plewig

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

  3. Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

  4. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

  5. Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Hertl

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

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Geusau, A. (2020). Syphilis. In: Plewig, G., French, L., Ruzicka, T., Kaufmann, R., Hertl, M. (eds) Braun-Falco´s Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_19-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58713-3_19-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-58713-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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