TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Endemic Treponematoses A1 - Lukehart, Sheila A. A2 - Jameson, J. Larry A2 - Fauci, Anthony S. A2 - Kasper, Dennis L. A2 - Hauser, Stephen L. A2 - Longo, Dan L. A2 - Loscalzo, Joseph Y1 - 2018 N1 - T2 - Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e AB - The endemic treponematoses are chronic diseases that are transmitted by direct contact, usually during childhood, and, like syphilis, can cause severe late manifestations years after initial infection. These diseases are caused by very close relatives of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, the etiologic agent of venereal syphilis (Chap. 177). Yaws, pinta, and endemic syphilis (bejel) are traditionally distinguished from venereal syphilis by mode of transmission, age of acquisition, geographic distribution, and clinical features; however, there is some overlap for each of these factors. Our “knowledge” about these infections is based on observations by health care workers who have visited endemic areas. Except for recent pilot programs of mass drug administration (MDA) for yaws, virtually no well-designed studies of the natural history, diagnosis, or treatment of these infections have been conducted. The treponemal infections are compared and contrasted in Table 178-1. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1155968737 ER -