MCQ Detailed View

The term “Great Pox” is the historical name for Syphilis, a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The name “Great Pox” was used in Europe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries to distinguish syphilis from “smallpox,” which was also widespread at that time. While smallpox was eradicated through vaccination campaigns in the 1970s, syphilis (the Great Pox) still remains a global health problem today.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), though it can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, a condition known as congenital syphilis. The disease progresses in multiple stages if left untreated:

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  Primary stage: Characterized by painless sores (chancres) at the site of infection.

  
  


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  Secondary stage: Includes symptoms like skin rashes, fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.

  
  


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  Latent stage: A period with no visible symptoms, which can last for years.

  
  


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  Tertiary stage: If untreated, syphilis can cause severe damage to the heart, brain, and other organs.

  
  

Unlike smallpox, which has been eliminated worldwide through vaccination, syphilis still persists because its control depends heavily on public health awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment with antibiotics (usually penicillin). No vaccine exists for syphilis, making prevention through safe practices and medical screening very important.

To clarify the other options:

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  Bubonic plague (caused by Yersinia pestis) is not called the Great Pox.

  
  


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  Measles is a viral infection but was never referred to as the Great Pox.

  
  


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  None is incorrect because syphilis is the historical Great Pox.

  
  

In conclusion, the “Great Pox” refers to Syphilis, which, unlike smallpox, has not been eradicated and continues to affect populations worldwide.