A 26-Year-Old Man Presenting With Loss of Vision, Skin Lesions, and Wasting

January 2012 in “ Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses ”

Catherine Chakvetadze, J.‐B. Monfort, N. Dupin, A. Carlotti, Boon Kay Tan, P. Grange, L. Guillevin, Dominique Salmon‐Céron

hair loss skin lesions secondary syphilis neurosyphilis Treponema pallidum penicillin treatment

TLDR The man's symptoms improved significantly after penicillin treatment for syphilis.

A 26-year-old man with HIV presented with symptoms including vision and hearing loss, skin lesions, weight loss, and complete body hair loss. He was diagnosed with secondary syphilis and neurosyphilis, confirmed by positive VDRL and PCR tests for Treponema pallidum. After a 3-week high-dose penicillin treatment, his symptoms, including skin lesions and hair loss, improved significantly. The case highlighted the rare concomitance of these symptoms in syphilis, particularly in an HIV-positive patient, and underscored the importance of considering syphilis in differential diagnoses for similar presentations.

View this study on sciencedirect.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Minoxidil Finasteride heart problems

in Update 97 upvotes 8 months ago

A user experienced heart problems after taking 1mg finasteride and 2.5mg oral minoxidil and is considering quitting minoxidil. Others discussed their experiences with heart issues and minoxidil, with some suggesting topical minoxidil as a safer alternative.

community Could microneedling for the next 5 years cause any permanent damage?

in Microneedling 22 upvotes 1 year ago

Microneedling for hair loss and its potential long-term effects. Some users believe it can cause fibrosis and scar tissue if done too frequently or deeply, while others claim it has improved their hair loss when done correctly. There is limited scientific research on the topic.

community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

in Research 828 upvotes 5 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community Whenever I see a woman I'm attracted to I feel immense shame and self hatred

in Chat 140 upvotes 3 years ago

A person feels intense shame and self-hatred due to baldness and poor self-image, affecting their confidence and social interactions. Suggestions include therapy, exercise, braces, hair transplants, and using finasteride.

community What are these spots on my scalp

in Treatment 51 upvotes 6 months ago

A user noticed non-itchy, non-bleeding spots on their scalp while experiencing hair loss. Replies suggest the spots are likely sunspots or liver spots and recommend seeing a dermatologist; hair loss is attributed to male pattern baldness.

community Oral minoxidil may not be as dangerous as what people say

in Minoxidil 9 upvotes 4 years ago

The safety of using oral minoxidil to treat hair loss and thinning, with studies showing mild side effects at low doses. It was suggested that people should consult a doctor or dermatologist before taking any type of medication for hair loss.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Syphilis: Today

2 citations, October 2010 in “Reviews in Medical Microbiology”

Syphilis is becoming more common and remains a major health problem due to challenges in prevention and treatment.

research Syphilis: The Great Imitator

35 citations, January 2019 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Syphilis has a wide range of symptoms that can look like other diseases, and if not treated, it can progress to a more serious stage, especially in HIV-positive patients.