General Paresis

Alternate Names : Paretic Neurosyphilis

General paresis is a chronic infection of the brain with Treponema pallidum, the organism that causes syphilis. It is a tertiary, or third-stage, form of syphilis that affects the brain and spinal cord.

What is going on in the body?

General paresis is a tertiary form of syphilis. It develops in 5% of the people with untreated syphilis when Treponema pallidum attacks the nervous system. It causes a gradual mental and neurological decline. The symptoms generally appear 20 years or more after the initial infection.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

General paresis is a long-term effect of an untreated syphilis infection.