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Case Reports
. 2024 Aug 17:37:e02061.
doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e02061. eCollection 2024.

Syphilitic uvula ulcer

Koko Shibutani  1 , Nobuyoshi Mori  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Syphilitic uvula ulcer

Koko Shibutani et al. IDCases. .

Abstract

A 42-year-old sexually active man with HIV on ART (antiretroviral therapy) who has a history of syphilis presented with fever and severe sore throat for which he could not eat or drink. He admitted to high-risk sexual intercourse with multiple partners 10 days prior. Physical examination revealed an injected throat and uvula ulcer. PCR for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum from pharynx and rapid group A streptococci test were negative. No significant bacteria were grown from the throat swab culture. The RPR (rapid plasma reagin) titer, which had previously been negative, increased to 1:2. From these results, uvula ulcer was thought to be caused by primary syphilis. He was treated with one shot of benzylpenicillin 2.4 million units intramuscularly, and his ulcer completely disappeared in seven days.

Keywords: Sexually transmitted infections; Syphilis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. A
Fig. A
Painful ulcer on the uvula with exudate.
Fig. B
Fig. B
Completely cured uvula ulcer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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