Medical term for the sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum.
Syphilis can be completely cured if treated early.
Please get tested for syphilis.
Standard modern spelling.
Older variant using the character 黴 (mold/bacteria); rarely seen today.
From Chinese 梅毒 (méidú), literally 'plum poison', referring to the syphilitic sores resembling plums. The exact origin of the Chinese term is uncertain.