Volume 4

Number 1, January 2022

A Case of Secondary Syphilis: Great imitator

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/zhswmcj.2022.v0401.08

Mohsena Akter1 , Shahadat Hossain2 , Zulfiqur Hossain Khan3 , Ishrat Bhuiyan4 , Md. Zakir Hossain5 , Syed Shair Ahmed6

Abstract

Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum. Due to florid cutaneous & systemic manifestations it was called ‘great imitator’ often caused confusion with other diseases. We report a case of secondary syphilis presented with non-pruritic, erythematous macules, papules, plaques in a young male; showing high titre of both treponemal & non treponemal test. Single dose of deep intramuscular Benzathine penicillin 12 lac in each buttock was given and patient became symptom free after two weeks. This case highlights common cutaneous manifestations of secondary syphilis which may simulate many diseases and may cause difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. If syphilis remain untreated it causes complications of tertiary or neurosyphilis and social stigmata.

Keywords: Syphilis, Secondary syphilis, Treponema pallidum, Benzathin penicillin


  1. Assistant professor, Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Z H Sikder Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

  2. Professor & Head of the Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka

  3. Professor & Head of the Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka

  4. Assistant professor, Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka

  5. Medical Officer, Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka

  6. Assistant Registrar, Department of Dermatology & Venereology

    Z H Sikder Women's Medical College, Dhaka

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Volume 4, Number 1, January 2022
Page: 36-43