Background: Syphilis is a systemic disease from the outset and is caused by the spirochaete
Treponema pallidum. The infection can be classified as congenital (transmitted from mother
to child in utero) or acquired (through sex or blood transfusion). Acquired syphilis is divided
into early and late syphilis. Early syphilis comprises the primary, secondary and early latent
stages. Late syphilis refers to late latent syphilis, gummatous, neurological and
cardiovascular syphilis.