Medicine Paper Example: Syphilis

Prior to the scientific findings of Treponema pallidum being the etiologic cause, for several deliberations, the genesis of syphilis has been the area under discussion of major debates. There have been various therapeutic agents which have been applied in an effort to treat syphilis. It is an STD (sexually transmitted disease) brought about by Treponema Pallidum a bacterium that is grouped under Spirochaetes phylum, Spirochaetales category, and the Spirochaetaceae family. On the other hand, Treponema pertenue, is known to cause yaws in humans. Treponema carateum that causes pinta and Treponema pallidum endemicum- that causes prevalent syphilis. However, Hayden (2003, p 36), maintains that syphilis is the only sexually transmitted treponemal disease.

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Since its inception, the disease has remained a dishonor and highly shameful disease; with countries affected blaming its neighbors as no country wanted to take the blame for the outbreak and spread of the epidemic (Banerjee 1987, p 169). According to Banerjee (1987, p 169), countries that took the blame game on the spread of the disease include the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany. Many countries christened the plague the French disease.' On the other hand, in France, it was christened the Neapolitan disease." The Russians nicknamed it Polish disease', while in Poland, it was named the German disease,' The Danish, the Portuguese and North Africa described as the Spanish/Castilian disease, ' while in Turkey, it was named Christian disease.' Similarly, Indians, and Islamic nations put blame on Hindus, whom they considered as the primary source of the disease. On the other hand, in India, blame was put on Islamic countries. Finally, everyone squarely placed the blame on the Europeans. (Hayden, 2003, p 28,29)

History of Syphilis

Syphilis is a known infection that has been in existence around for a long time since first making its appearance in 1495 in Europes Renaissance Italy. Evidence from skeletal outlook suggests that cases of syphilis in Europe existed after Christopher Columbus crew came back from a voyage. Syphilis then became referred to as French Disease, and it spread quickly causing a massive devastation in the European nations (Hayden, 2003, p 22,23).

Its first treatment was through the use of Mercury in 1496 which brought about a significant number of severe cases of mercury poison up to the time it was banned in the 17th century. It was then that penicillin was developed that the plague reduced on a global scale. It came later in 1928 when penicillin was produced in mass as an antibiotic (Banerjee 1987, p 171). During the time penicillin was being introduced as a cure, and it is still a reliable treatment and cure for syphilis.. (Hayden, 2003, p 50)

Syphilis infections have affected a large number of renown people claiming the lives of many, for example, Christopher Columbus and Al Capone, who was one of the most feared gangsters in America. Additionally, excellent writer Oscar Wilde; business powerhouse Howard Hughes just to name a few succumbed to the disease. Napoleon Bonapartes cause of death was arsenic and mercury poisoning, which was in an attempt to get cured of the epidemic (Lombardo 2001, p 2 of 10). Syphilis spared no one as it spread across and among the rich and famous. Not left behind as a result of the scourge were the poor with renown dictators and major politicians, for example, Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin of Uganda, and Benito Mussolini of Italy. It afflicted accredited philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer and also afflicted world-famous writers such as Oscar Wild, good leaders and staunch politicians such as presidents George Washington. Hayden (2003, p 28,29), states that no one was spared even artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Ludwig von Beethoven. It brought down kings and their heirs such as King Henry VIII and later on his son King Edward VI. According to Lombardo (2001, p 5 of 10), blacks in the United States were severely infected.

Mode of Transmission of Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, through having a direct contact with a syphilis wound in the event of unprotected sex (Lombardo 2001, p 5 of 10). Its signs are sores occurring on the lips and mouth and original parts of the infected. Nonsexual transmission happens in the event whereby an exposed wound gets into contact with syphilis sore wound. Transmission from mother to baby occurs during childbirth. Safe sex such as using latex can reduce the risk an occurrence high amongst gays, but can still be transmitted from sores on places not covered. (Hayden, 2003, p 55)

The epidemic is fatal in infants as well as the unborn babies as it can bring about a miscarriage or having a stillborn baby. Antibiotics can be used as a treatment during pregnancy to put down the chances of infection and to spread to the baby as well as a stop to the progression of the disease from the mother to the baby. Primary syphilis sores mostly appear on the genitals and parts of the mouth, according to Hayden (2003, p 55). World War I accelerated the spread of syphilis making it more of an international issue mainly as it was thought to be a hereditary disease. It took the concerted efforts of the League of Nations to coordinate its research internationally (Hayden, 2003, p 36). Generally speaking, syphilis was a dreaded disease which before the discovery of penicillin had a very high casualty. Thanks to modern medicine and safe sex that has reduced its infection rate and spread.

Reference

Banerjee, S. (1987). Bogey of the Bawdy: Changing Concept of' Obscenity'in 19th Century Bengali Culture. Economic and Political Weekly, 1197-1206.

Hayden, D. (2003). Pox: Genius, Madness, and the Mysteries of Syphilis. Basic Books.

Lombardo, P. A. (2001). Tuskegee's Truths: Rethinking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (review). Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 75(3), 616-617.