Prepared by: Bratislav Prokić, June 2023
Review: Dr. Milan Bjekić, dermatovenerologist,
City Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases - Belgrade
How old is syphilis?
Treponemal peritonitis, a disease related to syphilis, was recently found on the skeleton of a thirty-year-old woman from the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America, nearly 10,000 years old.
When did syphilis appear in Europe?
Syphilis probably came to Europe with the crew of Christopher Columbus, although there is also a hypothesis that syphilis existed in Europe before, but was not recognized.
When was syphilis first noticed?Syphilis was first observed in the mid-15th century Naples, during the French invasion. Since it was spread by French troops, the disease was known as the “French disease”, while the term “syphilis” was first used by the Italian doctor and poet Girolamo Fracastoro in 1530.
Sifilis je prvi put primećen polovinom XV veka u Napulju u Italiji tokom francuske invazije. Pošto su ga širile francuske trupe, bolest je bila poznata kao “francuska bolest”, dok je termin “sifilis” prvi put upotrebio italijanski lekar i pesnik Đirolamo Frakastoro 1530. godine.
When was the causative agent of syphilis discovered?
The causative agent of syphilis, the bacterium treponema pallidum,was first identified in 1905 Berlin. It was discovered by Fritz Schaudinn and Erich Hoffmann at the Charité Clinic. A year later, the first effective test for syphilis, the Wassermann test, was developed.
When was the cure for syphilis discovered?
The first effective treatment was developed in 1910. This was followed by the introduction of penicillin in 1943, which is still used today as the drug of choice.
How was syphilis treated before penicillin?
As there was no effective therapy, people tried many treatments, some of which were very dangerous. Mercury was the usual treatment, followed by bloodletting, laxatives, bathing in wine, herbs or olive oil.
Which famous people had syphilis?
Many famous figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Franz Schubert and Édouard Manet are believed to have had syphilis.