Catalig, Angelo

DENT3-AA
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. How are the primary, secondary, and tertiary
stages of syphilis distinguished?
- The primary stage of syphilis symptoms include the development of a painless sore
(called a chancre) at the site of infection, most often in the genitalia, the anus, or the
mouth. The sore normally emerges within 3 weeks after exposure and may linger for 3 to
6 weeks before healing on its own. During this stage, the bacterium is very infectious and
can easily be transmitted to others through sexual contact.

After the chancre has healed, the secondary stage of syphilis can begin, bringing with it a
variety of symptoms such as a rash on the skin, fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat,
and flu-like symptoms. The rash is normally non-itchy and develops on the torso, arms,
and legs, but may also affect the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These signs and
symptoms could linger for a few weeks to a few months.

Lastly the teritiary stage brings serious consequences affecting the brain system,
cardiovascular system, and other organs characterize the tertiary stage of syphilis, which
may manifest years or even decades after the initial infection. In this stage, the bacterium
can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, eyes, heart, blood vessels, bones, and joints,
resulting to a range of symptoms, including trouble with coordination and balance,
paralysis, blindness, heart failure, and dementia.

Syphilis can be diagnosed at several stages through laboratory testing of blood or other
bodily fluids, and these stages can be differentiated by the specific symptoms that present
themselves at each level.

There are different reasons behind our name. On what basis is L.  interrogans named?
- Leptospirosis is a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans that affects both humans and
animals. The microscopical appearance and pathogenicity of Leptospira interrogans
inspired the name.

The genus name Leptospira was coined by combining the Greek words for "thin" and
"coil," therefore the name "Leptospira." This reflects the bacterium's microscopic
morphology, which is in the form of a spiral. Because this bacteria can hide from the
host's immune system and stay dormant for extended periods of time, the term
"interrogans" is a play on the word "interrogate," which describes the bacterium's
potential to cause disease.