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Kristofer Nguyen
Ms. Bevill
ENGL 1302.02
28 October 2015
The Consequences and Effect of Syphilis
Society today has seen a rise in sexual activity and a steady increase in sexually
transmitted disease. With a rise in STDs, one can expect more people would take better
precaution participating in unprotected sex. A film created in 1941 Know for Sure is a short
film about characters that encounter problems with sexually transmitted disease. In this film,
there is causal argument that is implied and stated. A couple of things worth analyzing is possible
ways syphilis can be transferred, how STDs can effect a mother trying to have a baby, and how
syphilis can be cured. To some extent, the information provided in this video is true.
Unprotected sex is the leading cause in transmitting sexual diseases. However, some
disease can also be transmitted orally. The particular disease in this film is syphilis. If left
untreated, it can lead to serious long-term consequences. According to WebMD, a highly credible
informative health website states, Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread primarily by
sexual activity, including oral and anal sex.(An Overview). Syphilis is contracted when a
person comes in direct contact with a sore. According to the U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, Syphilis sores (called chancres) are usually found on the surface of the
genitals and the anus, and inside the vagina and rectum. The sores can also develop on the mouth
and lips.(Syphilis Fact Sheet). The only possible way of contracting this disease is by getting
involved with prostitutes and easy pickups, according to the film. During the time of this
informative video, it is said that syphilis is contracted through sexual encounters with scandalous

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women. However, a woman named Melanie Haiken, writes health coverage for WebMD,
ShareCare.com, and for Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield, states a recent studies by CDC in
2013, a whopping ninety-one percent of all new syphilis cases were in men. And almost all of
those were among men who identified themselves as gay or bisexual.(Haiken). The film does
not imply which race is most vulnerable to this disease, but the CDC says, Black men five times
as likely to contract the disease as white men, and black women thirteen times more at risk than
white women.(Haiken). Know for Sure suggest that women are the leading cause in
spreading the disease, however, CDC states the secrecy around gay and bisexual are the major
contributors to spreading the disease.
In the film, a doctor delivers bad news to the husband about what has happened to his
kid. The cause of the death of his son was because of syphilis. Tony then proceeds to try to kill
himself with a knife because he could not handle the news. Later on in the film, the doctor
reveals an interesting cases about how nervous breakdown, suicidal thoughts, and heart failure
all stem from late syphilis. The doctor then begins to give examples of late syphilis such as,
Robert Stanton, A brokerage firm president, the reason for his business failing is not because of a
nervous breakdown, but because of the effect of late syphilis. The syphilis he contracted fifteen
years ago affected his judgmental abilities causing him to make bad decision. The doctor gives
another example, stating that a man was diagnosed with syphilis and received treatment for it.
The patient took his medicine for only two week thinking he was cured. But shortly after, he had
a heart attacking while driving and crashed into a school yard killing three kids. The doctor does
not blame the person, but syphilis itself is responsible for those deaths. All of these are possible
symptoms in late syphilis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a major
operating organization that allows CDCs center, institutes, and office to provide expertise in

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their respective areas, confirms that Neurosyphilis can affect the nervous system and alter
behavior. It is said that in the latent (hidden) stage the disease may damage the internal organs,
including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver bones, and joint.(CDC Fact
Sheet). Symptoms that develop in the latency stage is also described in the video.
The consequences a mother with syphilis will have while trying to have a baby is either
death or complication later on in life for the newborn. In the film, the baby is born dead. If a
baby were to be born alive, according to CDC, Depending on how long a pregnant woman has
been infected; she may have a high risk of having a stillbirth (a baby born dead) or of giving
birth to a baby who dies shortly after birth; untreated syphilis in pregnant women result in infant
death in up to 40 percent of cases.(CDC Fact Sheet). In the film, the baby is announced dead
shortly after the delivery, so this information particularly in the film is true. According to a
Nicole Noyes, a board-certified OB/GYN, states if a mother is infected with syphilis, and is in
the first and second stages of syphilis, they have a greater risk of transmitting the disease to their
baby than those with the third stage of the infection. A mother who has untreated syphilis or
only receives treatment late in pregnancy has about a fifty percent chance of passing the
infection on to her baby.(Noyes). If a mother who has not gotten treatment for her disease has a
fifty percent chance of passing the infection on to her baby. if treatment occurs before the fourth
month of pregnancy, fetal damage is most often prevented. (Noyes). To prevent this, women
should seek medical if they have noticed sores with raised edges called chancre.
Syphilis is a disease that can be easily cured if it is caught in the early stages. In the film,
the doctor says the proper cure for syphilis is to get a blood test and treatment by a licensed
doctor. For the treatment to be effective, the patients are to go to the hospital every week and not
miss a single treatment. There are no homemade medicine, or over the counter drugs that can

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cure syphilis. Just like in the film, believing in an unauthorized doctor and his medicine will not
cure the syphilis disease. In the film, the doctor suggests his patience to come in weekly for
treatments for treating syphilis in the late stage. This is correct according to the CDC. According
to Health & Human Services, Syphilis in its early stages is very easily cured with a single
injection of the antibiotic penicillin.(Syphilis Fact Sheet). For a successful and less
complicated future, one must treat syphilis as early as possible. The treatment will cure the
disease and stop any further damage, but if left alone too long it will not reverse any
complications that have already occurred. The doctor in the film, also suggest to be cured from
this disease, one must refrain from participating in sexual activity until the treatment is done.
Syphilis is a dangerous disease. When involved with a women or man, one should take
precaution to avoid contracting this horrible disease. Syphilis is a curable disease with proper
diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the film, the actors were able to inform the audience in a
cause and effect manner. If one does not take care of this disease, one can expect serious damage
to the organs, nervous system, and heart.

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Works Cited
An Overview of Syphilis. WebMD. WebMD, LLC. N.d. Web. 31 October 2015.
Haiken, Melanie. Syphilis Made A Big Comeback In 2013, CDC Warns. Forbes / Health. N.p.
n.d. Web. 31 October 2015.
Noyes, Nicole. Syphilis in Pregnancy. Syphilis Effect on Pregnancy. Nicole Noyes, M.D.,
F.A.C.O.G. n.d. Web. 31 October 2015.
Syphilis CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. September 2015. Web. 31 October 2015.
Syphilis during pregnancy. Baby Center Expert Advice. BabyCenter, L.L.C. 2013. Web. 31
October 2015.
Syphilis Fact Sheet. Office of Population Affairs. U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services. N.d. Web. 31 October 2015.