Endemic non-venereal syphilis (Q38158)

Endemic non-venereal syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies endemicum and is transmitted by skin-to-skin or mouth-to-mouth contact rather than sexual contact. Children are at greatest risk of infection. Clinical features are similar to venereal syphilis with a primary ulcer (usually in the mouth or on the nipples of breast-feeding women nursing infected children) and, in the secondary stage, a generalised papular rash, oral mucous patches, condylomata lata and generalised lymphadenopathy. Late stage infection is characterised by destructive gummata of the nasopharynx (gangosa), bones and skin.