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. 2016 Apr;16(2):184-8.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-184.

Syphilis: presentations in general medicine

Farai Nyatsanza  1 , Craig Tipple  2
Affiliations

Syphilis: presentations in general medicine

Farai Nyatsanza et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Syphilis is caused by the spirochete bacteriumTreponema pallidumand can be transmitted both sexually and from mother to child.T pallidumcan infect any organ and produces a clinical disease with a relapsing and remitting course. It is not hard to see, therefore, why it is often described as the great mimic. In this review, we provide an update of modern syphilis epidemiology, clinical presentations, and testing and treatment strategies.

Keywords: Syphilis; Treponema pallidum; epidemiology; neurosyphilis; treatment.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
The clinical stages of syphilis. The clinical stages of syphilis from contact with T pallidum through to development of tertiary disease. During the first year of latent infection, 25% of patients will relapse to the secondary stage.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Clinical pictures of patients with early syphilis. Clinical photographs of patients with early syphilis: a) typical maculopapular rash on the chest; b) skin with secondary syphilis rash at high magnification; c) penile chancre. Images obtained from the Wellcome Photo Library (N0000562, N0000822 and N0000823) and reproduced with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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