This analysis uncovers transmission of syphilis and its epidemic impact on health and language across cultures, highlighting therapeutic approaches and medical history.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (subsp. pallidum) and associated with severe symptoms culminating into cardiovascular complications or neurological damage. In the late 15th century, its epidemic occurred in Europe with an outbreak in Naples, causing numerous deaths and impacted people’s lives, shaping their thoughts, behaviours, and language. Here, we traced the syphilis’ origin, exploring its social implications, and reviewing its therapeutic approaches. Moreover, using examples of Neapolitan folk-sayings we illustrated how dialects preserve fragments of medical history. In conclusion, beside epidemics impact human health, years later they continue shaping socio-cultural traits, including language.
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Bifulco et al. (2025) studied this question.
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