Secondary Syphilis Presenting With Alopecia and Leukoderma in a Stable HIV-Positive Patient in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Case Report
April 2024
in “
AIDS Research and Therapy
”
Studysummary This case highlights the importance of considering syphilis testing for patients with unusual symptoms like hair loss and hypopigmentation, emphasizing the diagnostic and management challenges in resource-limited settings. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This case report details a 29-year-old HIV-positive woman who developed secondary syphilis, presenting with alopecia and leukoderma, despite being on antiretroviral therapy. The patient experienced generalized hair loss and skin depigmentation, which were resolved following treatment with Benzathine Penicillin 2.4MU. The report emphasizes the necessity for healthcare providers to maintain a high level of clinical suspicion for syphilis in patients with atypical symptoms, particularly in resource-limited settings, to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective management. The case also highlights the importance of recognizing diverse clinical manifestations of syphilis in HIV-positive individuals.
