MEDYMOLOGY
ARBOR VITAE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
Syphilis
Etymology:
Definition:
L. syphilis: the term "syphilis" originates from the title of a poem, "Syphilis, sive Morbus Gallicus" ("Syphilis, or the French Disease"), published in 1530 by Italian physician and poet Girolamo Fracastoro. The poem tells the story of a shepherd named Syphilus, who is believed to be the first person afflicted with the disease as a result of being punished by the Greek god Apollo. The word "syphilis" was later used by Fracastoro as a generic term for the disease in his treatise "De Contagione" in 1546. The origin of the name "Syphilus" is uncertain, but it may be derived from the Latinized Greek for "Pig-lover".
A disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is usually transmitted through sexual contact but can also be congenital, passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy.
If left untreated, syphilis progresses through three stages over many years and can produce various symptoms, including chancres (sores), rashes, and systemic lesions. The clinical course of syphilis can have significant long-term effects if not properly managed. It is important to distinguish between primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, and tertiary syphilis, which represent different stages of the disease.
Fun Medical History: The term "syphilis" has a fascinating medical history intertwined with cultural, social, and even geopolitical factors. The disease was stigmatized and often attributed to neighboring or enemy countries. Different countries named the disease after their perceived originators, blaming each other for its spread. For example, Italians, Germans, and the United Kingdom referred to syphilis as "the French disease," while the French called it "the Neapolitan disease", and the Russians called it the "Polish disease." These names reflected the social dynamics and tensions of the time. The introduction of the term "syphilis" itself came from Girolamo Fracastoro's work, which included a character named Syphilus. Fracastoro's poem and subsequent treatise contributed to the understanding and classification of the disease.
Check out a more thorough history from this article:
Tampa M, Sarbu I, Matei C, Benea V, Georgescu SR. Brief history of syphilis. J Med Life. 2014 Mar 15;7(1):4-10. Epub 2014 Mar 25. PMID: 24653750; PMCID: PMC3956094.