An Updated Review on the Diagnosis of Syphilis: A Sexually Transmitted Infection

Background and Aim: Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) with distinct stages and clinical manifestations. It remains a major public health concern, as untreated infections can lead to serious systemic complications, including neurosyphilis, cardiovascular damage, and congenital syphilis. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, syphilis remains underdiagnosed in many regions. This review aims to provide an updated analysis of syphilis diagnosis, focusing on the various stages of the disease, diagnostic methods, and histopathological examination.Methods: The review is based on recent studies and clinical data concerning the etiology, clinical features, and diagnostic approaches for syphilis. Diagnostic methods, including serological tests (nontreponemal and treponemal), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and dark-field microscopy, are discussed. The review also explores the role of histopathological examination in diagnosing syphilis in lymph nodes and the aerodigestive tract.Results: Syphilis progression occurs in primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages, with various clinical symptoms, including painless ulcers, rashes, and systemic symptoms such as fever and lymphadenopathy. Serological testing, such as Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) tests and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) tests, are commonly used for diagnosis. PCR and dark-field microscopy provide additional diagnostic tools. Histopathological examination of syphilitic lesions reveals characteristic inflammatory patterns, including lymphocytic infiltration and vascular changes in lymph nodes and the aerodigestive tract.Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of syphilis are critical to preventing its progression to severe complications. A combination of clinical evaluation, serological testing, PCR, and histopathological examination enhances diagnostic accuracy. Continued efforts in improving public health awareness and diagnostic access are essential in controlling syphilis transmission.

کلیدواژه ها:

syphilis ، Treponema pallidum ، Diagnosis ، serological testing ، PCR ، histopathology ، Sexually Transmitted Infections ، public health