MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Syphilis is a type of sexually transmitted disease or infection. It’s caused by tiny spiral or coiled bacteria called Treponema pallidum. The first symptom you may notice is one or more sores, called chancres*, that are usually painless and appear on the site where the bacteria entered your body. Without treatment, the disease can continue to progress through three more stages over a period of weeks, months, or years. It can result in serious health problems, such as brain damage, blindness, or even death. The good news is that syphilis can be treated and cured with different forms of an antibiotic called penicillin. Usually, one dose injected into your hip or buttock is enough to clear the infection. However, if it has spread to other parts of your body, such as your eyes, brain, or spinal cord, you may need more than one dose injected directly into your veins. People with serious infections, such as neurosyphilis, may need to be treated in the hospital. ...