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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2022-01-01
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Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:02:38Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-2eddadab94d74bf59225d92ed8af00a0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2249-4863 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:02:38Z |
publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
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 |
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