Siphilis is a curable Sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum. There are at least four different species of the bacterium Treponema Pallidum.

• The first species is of course Treponema Pallidum Pallidum which causes Siphilis.
• Second being Treponema Pallidum Pertenue which causes Yaws. Yaws are a tropical infection of the skin, bones, and joints. It most commonly affects children ages 6-10 in tropical areas of the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
• Third species is the Treponema Pallidum Carateum which causes Pinta. This disease is caused by living conditions poor in hygiene, not sexual contact. It is most common in Mexico, Central and South America.
• The fourth species is Treponema Pallidum Endemicum which causes Bejel. Bejel is commonly found in countries  of the eastern Mediterranean and in West Africa.   Bejel is spread through mouth to mouth contact or sharing domestic utensils.

Siphilis is also known as “the great imitator” due to the signs and symptoms of this disease being very similar to those of other diseases. There are four different stages of Siphilis which are the Primary stage, Secondary stage, Latent stage, and the tertiary stage. These four stages will be discussed further in the ‘symptoms’ page.