Introduction
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that has been known since 1500s, and is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Otherwise known as "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are identical to other chronic, infectious, sexually transmitted disease, it begins in the mucous membranes and quickly becomes systemic, meaning it spreads in the bloodstream. If it is untreated, it progresses into four stages: Primary, Secondary, Latent, and Late. Occurrences of syphilis is on the rise, especially in people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-nine, drug users, and people with HIV, (the virus that causes AIDS).
Rates have been on a steady decline in the U.S. for the last fifty years. However, despite being very easily and cheaply curable, syphilis has yet to be eliminated. And people who get the disease, and don't get treated, not only continue to put their partner at high risk of catching this disease, but they put themselves at a higher risk of damaging their heart, spine, brain, and ultimately death.
The research shows that most of the people who catch this disease are unaware of it at first, but later discover the damage done to their body. Then they go to the hospital for a check-up and find that they are diagnosed with syphilis or other sexual transmitted disease.
The research shows that syphilis is increasing rapidly because most Navajos leave the reservation and go into the city, and then return to the reservation not knowing they have the disease.
