Syphilis is an infectious disease that is caused by treponema pallidum. This disease follows an attack plan of penetrating intact mucous membranes of torn away skin, and after hours of contact, enters the lymphatic system and bloodstream of an individual. Syphilis usually appears in three stages on the body. In the primary stage of syphilis, there is the appearance of a lesion or perhaps a chancre in 2 to 6 weeks at the site of the infection. The secondary stage is characterized through a general eruption of the skin and mucous membranes. Weakness, fatigue, and anorexia are also symptoms of the second stage. The final, tertiary stage, is usually associated with more destructive and intense skin lesions, with tumors possibly in the internal organs, damage to the victim's heart, possible blindness thorough the breaking down of optic nerves, and even insanity. Treponema pallidum syphilis has reached an all-time low in the United States with about 11,000 cases a year, but outbreaks still sprout in urban areas and parts of the rural south. African-Americans and Hispanics are the most liable to catch treponema pallidum syphilis.

The bacteria treponema pallidum is exclusively a pathogen and it cannot replicate with the absence of mammalian cells. Treponema pallidum takes the shape of a corkscrew and it is called a spirochete. In order to survive, these spirochetes depend on moisture, which is why they are so spread out in an individual's body fluids. Although a cause of the harmful disease syphilis, treponema pallidum is fragile and can be easily killed by contact with air, antiseptics, and even sunlight. Outside the body of an individual the bacteria can only live for a mere 2 hours and it has to be in a moist dark place since moisture is needed for the bacteria's survival. When treponema pallidum succeeds in reaching a person, the spirochetes infect the cells of the body and the axial fibrils of each of the spirochetes attach to an opposite end and wrap around the cell body, which is enclosed by an envelope.

Infections from treponema pallidum are diagnosed through the observance of Treponema lesions, direct fluorescent antibody identification, and silver impregnation techniques on body tissues. Victims of treponema pallidum syphilis at first feel comfortable and fine with sometimes the appearances of an irritating rash with normal blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. As the weeks go on, or whatever the amount of time needed in order for the disease to intensify, victims develop more irritating nuisances and pains like sore throat, fever, and weight loss. Treponema pallidum syphilis is not really fatal, but the victim experiences much pain and trauma from the disease as it becomes more serious. Transmission of syphilis is mostly done through sexual contact and it can also enter through an open wound that would permit the disease's entry. Syphilis can also occur through infected blood or plasma from a pregnant mother to her fetus. An antibiotic, usually penicillin is used for treatment of Treponema pallidum syphilis, but before it was done with mercury, arsenic, and bismuth until the 1940's. Specifically IM penicillin G benzathine is mostly used with a single dose of 1.2 million units in each buttock of the victim.