Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader

Syphilis, a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, progresses through three arbitrary stages resulting in varied clinical manifestations. The aberrant presentation of syphilis in the secondary stage without any clinical evidence of the primary stage is referred...

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Main Authors: Murali Narasimhan, Mayank Lagoo, Ramakrishnan Ramachandran, Soosai Donald Fernandes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=3;spage=1216;epage=1220;aulast=Narasimhan
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author Murali Narasimhan
Mayank Lagoo
Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
Soosai Donald Fernandes
author_facet Murali Narasimhan
Mayank Lagoo
Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
Soosai Donald Fernandes
author_sort Murali Narasimhan
collection DOAJ
description Syphilis, a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, progresses through three arbitrary stages resulting in varied clinical manifestations. The aberrant presentation of syphilis in the secondary stage without any clinical evidence of the primary stage is referred to as syphilis d' emblée. Here we report a series of six cases in male patients. Five out of six patients presented with multiple, non-pruritic, macular palmar, and/or plantar lesions. One patient had typical facial and perianal lesions of condyloma lata. The diagnosis was confirmed by a reactive VDRL with titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:64 and a positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA). Syphilis being a great imitator can present in different ways without a typical history of primary chancre following sexual exposure, and can mimic many dermatological disorders in its secondary stage. Unless physicians have a high index of suspicion, the diagnosis may be missed. Early identification aids in prompt initiation of therapy and prevention of disease progression to chronic stages and systemic manifestations.
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spelling doaj.art-2eddadab94d74bf59225d92ed8af00a02022-12-22T04:30:19ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632022-01-011131216122010.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_997_21Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masqueraderMurali NarasimhanMayank LagooRamakrishnan RamachandranSoosai Donald FernandesSyphilis, a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, progresses through three arbitrary stages resulting in varied clinical manifestations. The aberrant presentation of syphilis in the secondary stage without any clinical evidence of the primary stage is referred to as syphilis d' emblée. Here we report a series of six cases in male patients. Five out of six patients presented with multiple, non-pruritic, macular palmar, and/or plantar lesions. One patient had typical facial and perianal lesions of condyloma lata. The diagnosis was confirmed by a reactive VDRL with titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:64 and a positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA). Syphilis being a great imitator can present in different ways without a typical history of primary chancre following sexual exposure, and can mimic many dermatological disorders in its secondary stage. Unless physicians have a high index of suspicion, the diagnosis may be missed. Early identification aids in prompt initiation of therapy and prevention of disease progression to chronic stages and systemic manifestations.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=3;spage=1216;epage=1220;aulast=Narasimhansyphilissyphilis d'embléevdrl
spellingShingle Murali Narasimhan
Mayank Lagoo
Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
Soosai Donald Fernandes
Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
syphilis
syphilis d'emblée
vdrl
title Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
title_full Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
title_fullStr Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
title_full_unstemmed Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
title_short Syphilis D' Emblée: A case series of the great masquerader
title_sort syphilis d emblee a case series of the great masquerader
topic syphilis
syphilis d'emblée
vdrl
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2022;volume=11;issue=3;spage=1216;epage=1220;aulast=Narasimhan
work_keys_str_mv AT muralinarasimhan syphilisdembleeacaseseriesofthegreatmasquerader
AT mayanklagoo syphilisdembleeacaseseriesofthegreatmasquerader
AT ramakrishnanramachandran syphilisdembleeacaseseriesofthegreatmasquerader
AT soosaidonaldfernandes syphilisdembleeacaseseriesofthegreatmasquerader