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'''Syphilis''' is a [[sexually transmitted disease]] caused by the [[bacteria]] ''Treponema pallidum''. Syphilis originated in the [[New World]] and was introduced to [[Europe]] in the late 15th century by [[Spain|Spanish]] explorers returning from the New World.<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/9701/newsbriefs/syphilis.html  Origins of Syphilis]</ref> The first European record of a syphilis epidemic was in 1493, a year after the explorer [[Columbus]] discovered [[America]].

'''Syphilis''' is a [[sexually transmitted disease]] caused by the [[bacteria]] ''Treponema pallidum''. Syphilis originated in the [[New World]] and was introduced to [[Europe]] in the late 15th century by [[Spain|Spanish]] explorers returning from the New World.<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/9701/newsbriefs/syphilis.html  Origins of Syphilis]</ref> The first European record of a syphilis epidemic was in 1493, a year after the explorer [[Columbus]] discovered [[America]].

Syphilis has caused the death, derangement, or diminished mental capacity of many famous people throughout history.  [[Lenin]]'s debilitating health problems and strokes while barely 50 years old are thought to have been caused by syphilis; [[Al Capone]] was ravaged by this disease until his mental capacity reduced to that of a 12-year-old.<ref>https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a32461994/al-capone-death-syphilis/</ref>

Syphilis has caused the death, derangement, or diminished mental capacity of many famous people throughout history.  [[Lenin]]'s debilitating health problems and strokes while barely 50 years old are thought to have been caused by syphilis;<ref>https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00839.x</ref> [[Al Capone]] was ravaged by this disease until his mental capacity reduced to that of a 12-year-old.<ref>https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a32461994/al-capone-death-syphilis/</ref>

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==