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From: "Shirley" <>
Subject: Re: [LEWIS] Glossary of disease
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 08:18:27 -0700
References: <110.34f3352.289c0ada@aol.com>

General paresis is one form of neurosyphilis, which is a manifestation of a
late, untreated syphilis infection. It is a progressive, life-threatening
complication.

The infection causes widespread damage to the nerves of the brain. This
damage results in personality changes, mood changes, hyperactive reflexes,
pain ("lightning pains", brief sharp pains in all parts that are
characteristic of tabes dorsalis), eye changes with abnormal pupil response,
abnormal mental function including hallucinations and delusions, decreased
intellectual functioning (memory, calculating, judgment, insight), and
speech changes.

General paresis appears in about 1 out of 1,000,000 people. The risks
include previous syphilis infection and previous infection with other
sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea (which may hide symptoms of
syphilis infection). Syphilis infections are transmitted primarily through
sexual contact with an infected lesion, but may be transmitted by non-sexual
contact.

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