Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum, transmitted through direct contact with an infectious lesion during sexual activity or vertically from mother to fetus. The infection progresses through defined stages: a primary chancre at the site of inoculation, a …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 8 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 14× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2994-6743 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum, transmitted through direct contact with an infectious lesion during sexual activity or vertically from mother to fetus. The infection progresses through defined stages: a primary chancre at the site of inoculation, a secondary stage with systemic rash and mucocutaneous lesions, a latent asymptomatic phase, and, if untreated, tertiary disease affecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Congenital syphilis, resulting from transplacental transmission, remains a serious and preventable cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity, and its correlates have been examined through cross-sectional analysis of population data. Epidemiological surveillance is a major focus, including multi-year retrospective analyses of temporal trends and the distribution of syphilis within defined populations, as well as study of associated infections and comorbidities that frequently accompany it. Because syphilis often co-occurs with other sexually transmitted infections, its detection sits within broader programs of testing, including home-collected sampling and laboratory analysis of large case series, and within efforts to assess knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices in at-risk groups such as adolescents. Diagnosis relies on serological and direct detection methods, and treatment with penicillin is highly effective, making early identification, partner notification, and antenatal screening central to control.

Research published in this journal

8 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 8 articles above have been cited 14 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Syphilis, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (ISSN 2994-6743).

Journal editorial board
Jennifer Cunningham-Erves · United States Bassem Refaat · Saudi Arabia Andrea Palicelli · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.