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Case Reports
. 2024 May-Jun;41(3):493-496.
doi: 10.1111/pde.15479. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Congenital syphilis presenting with granulomatous scalp nodules

Carrie Vuong  1 , Erina Lie  1 , Natalie Ellington  2 , Amaran Moodley  3 , Brian Hinds  1 , Victoria R Barrio  1   3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Congenital syphilis presenting with granulomatous scalp nodules

Carrie Vuong et al. Pediatr Dermatol. 2024 May-Jun.

Abstract

We describe a case of congenital syphilis in an adopted infant with a unique dermatologic presentation of scalp granulomas, along with lymphadenopathy, anemia, and elevated liver transaminases. To our knowledge, this cutaneous morphology has not been previously reported in the literature. This case highlights the varied clinical presentation of congenital syphilis and the diagnostic challenge it poses for clinicians, especially in the context of unknown prenatal history/unknown risk factors, or if syphilis is acquired during pregnancy after routine screening is performed. As the incidence of congenital syphilis has more than tripled in recent years, this diagnosis should be considered when a neonate or infant presents with unexplained skin nodules.

Keywords: congenital syphilis; granuloma; infectious; pregnancy complications; sexually transmitted diseases; treponemal infections.

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References

REFERENCES

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