A Rare Presentation of Late Latent Syphilis With Alopecia and Polyarticular Joint Pain in a 17-Year-Old Teenager

    January 2025 in “ The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal ”
    Kiriam Escobar Lee, Musa Gökalp Bolkent, Michelle Collins-Ogle, Brenda I. Anosike
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    TLDR Syphilis can cause unusual symptoms like hair loss and joint pain, but treatment is effective.
    A 17-year-old male presented with polyarthritis, alopecia, and fatigue, leading to a diagnosis of late latent syphilis after testing positive for syphilis antibodies and a reactive RPR titer of 1:256. Treatment with benzathine penicillin G resulted in hair regrowth and resolution of joint pain, with post-treatment RPR titers decreasing to 1:64, indicating a successful response. This case highlights the unusual presentation of syphilis affecting multiple organ systems and emphasizes the importance of STI screening, particularly in high-risk groups such as young men who have sex with men. The report also discusses racial disparities in STI rates and the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.
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