had a response to the vaccine. Over the course of one’s lifetime, the antibody response diminishes but is effective in most people. The baby born to a hepatitis B positive mother will get the vaccine plus immune globulin against hepatitis B, which prevents transmission in up to 99 percent of cases. Hepatitis B cannot be cured but there are drugs that can be used in very sick patients. Most people will clear the infection by themselves. The medications that exist will prevent replication of the virus so that the damage to the liver is diminished. Patients who already have cirrhosis can improve their situation with treatment.
SYPHILIS Syphilis is strictly a sexually transmitted disease, although vertical transmission is possible. The bacterium Treponema pallidum is the causative agent of this infection. There are four stages to the disease, with a person going through all four stages if they are not treated early on. In the primary stage, the person develops a painless chancre, usually on or near the genitals. Figure 17 shows a primary chancre of the lip:
Figure 17.
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