Causes of Syphilis

Cause of Syphilis: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum.¹

Cause details for Syphilis: The bacterium spreads from the initial ulcer of an infected person to the skin or mucous membranes of the genital area, the mouth, or the anus of a sexual partner. It also can pass through broken skin on other parts of the body. The syphilis bacterium is very fragile, and the infection is almost always spread by sexual contact. In addition, a pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the bacterium to her unborn child, who may be born with serious mental and physical problems as a result of this infection. But the most common way to get syphilis is to have sex with someone who has an active infection. ¹

Related information for causes of Syphilis: Further relevant information on causes of Syphilis may be found in the risk factors for Syphilis and underlying causes of Syphilis.

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Syphilis, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID

Last revision: June 18, 2003

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