Syphilis

This illustration drawn from an electron micrograph shows syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can go unnoticed for many years and there are recognised stages to the development of the disease resulting in multiple sores. Syphilis is also transferred from mother to baby in pregnant women and can result in still births. Antibiotics can successfully treat syphilis in its early stages.