Beyond appearance: An unusual manifestation of isolated oral secondary syphilis

• Published in: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology Vol. 33; p. 2058738419845566
• Main Authors: Mari, Elena, Nudo, Maurizio, Palese, Enzo, Cotticelli, Luisa, Cotticelli, Ciro, Zino, Grazia, Coppola, Rosa, Di Lella, Federica Maria, Arcari, Gabriele, Rodio, Donatella Maria, Prezioso, Carla, Pietropaolo, Valeria, Devirgiliis, Valeria, Panasiti, Vincenzo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 2019; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Case reports; Chronic infection; Female; Humans; Letter to the Editor; Localization; Middle Aged; Mucosa; Penicillin G Benzathine - therapeutic use; Plaques; Syphilis; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - drug therapy; Ulcers; unusual manifestation; secondary syphilis; oral syphilis
• ISSN: 2058-7384; 0394-6320; 2058-7384
• DOI: 10.1177/2058738419845566

Syphilis is a sexually acquired chronic infection caused by Treponema pallidum and is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. The secondary stage of the disease results from the hematogenous and lymphatic dissemination of treponemes after a few weeks or months, and it is characterized by recurrent activity of the disease, with muco-cutaneous as well as systemic manifestations. Mucosal lesions range from small, superficial ulcers that resemble painless aphthae to large gray plaques, and they are generally associated with systemic manifestations of the disease. The exclusive asymptomatic oral localization not associated with general manifestations is uncommon but may actually be unrecognized and under-reported. We report a case of isolated oral manifestation as the unique presentation of secondary syphilis.