Final answer:
Syphilis, when untreated, can be fatal due to organ damage in its later stages, but is highly curable with antibiotics like penicillin if treated early. Pregnant women should be tested and treated for syphilis to prevent serious outcomes like stillbirth. Desensitization is used for penicillin-allergic pregnant women.
Step-by-step explanation:
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. When untreated, syphilis can be fatal, as it progresses through multiple stages, eventually causing severe damage to major organs such as the heart, brain, and liver, potentially leading to death. Treatment during the early stages of syphilis with antibiotics, such as penicillin, is highly effective and can prevent the disease from advancing to its more severe stages.
During the early stages, syphilis presents with symptoms like a small, painless sore around the genitals, which often goes unnoticed, and a rash with flu-like symptoms appearing a few months later. However, without treatment, syphilis can enter a latent phase where the bacteria remain in the body without causing symptoms but can still cause organ damage if it progresses to tertiary syphilis. Therefore, early detection and treatment are crucial for the management of syphilis and prevention of its fatal outcomes.
It is important for pregnant women to be tested for syphilis, as untreated syphilis in pregnant women can lead to stillbirth or early infant death in as many as 40 percent of cases. The use of penicillin in pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis is 98 percent effective at preventing transmission to the fetus, and desensitization is performed for those allergic to the antibiotic.