Syphilis Control — A Continuing Challenge

Syphilis. The name of this widespread and ancient disease is familiar to health care providers worldwide. This name recognition, however, belies the complexity of the disease, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges that continue to affect global efforts to control syphilis. Early (primary or secondary) syphilis is typically marked by ulcerative lesions that occur initially at the site of inoculation, followed several months later by widespread cutaneous, mucosal, and even systemic manifestations of the dissemination of the causal agent, Treponema pallidum (see Figure 1). Even without treatment, both primary and secondary lesions resolve, and the infection enters a “latent” . . .