Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease in which 36,000 cases were reported in 2006. It is often called "the great imitator" because the symptoms of often difficult to differentiate from other diseases. There are three stages; the primary, secondary and late and latent stages. Symptoms that include sores rash, headaches, weight loss, fatigue, and sore throat, to name a few, often occur in the primary and secondary stages. During the late and latent stages the symptoms seen in the primary and secondary stages will disappear and an infected person will began to have damage to internal organs potentially resulting in paralysis, gradual blindness and dementia. Although it is most often transmitted through sexual contact, it can be passed an unborn baby through the mother possibly resulting in infant death. The presence of soles on sexual organs also increases the chances of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Although syphilis has the potential of infecting any age group, our target audience for this P.S.A. will be men and women under 30. The most effective way to prevent transmission during sexual contact is through the use of condoms (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

References:

McGinnis, J. M., Williams-Russo, P., & Knickman, J. R. (2002). The case for more active policy attention to health promotion. Health Aff (Millwood), 21(2), 78-93.

Van Vranken, M.(2007). Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases: an update. American Family Physician, 76(12) p 1827.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov. (less info)