Infectious Disease Reports (Feb 2012)

Malignant syphilis as the first manifestation of HIV infection

  • Efstathios Rallis,
  • Vasileios Paparizos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/idr.2012.e15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. e15 – e15

Abstract

Read online

Malignant syphilis is a rare and severe variant of secondary syphilis. It is clinically characterized by large papular, nodular and ulcerative lesions affecting the trunk and the extremities and covered with thick crust. We present a case of 52-year-old homosexual male who developed malignant syphilis and this was the first clinical manifestation of HIV infection. The patient was treated successfully with intravenous aqueous crystalline penicillin G. Physicians should recognize malignant syphilis and considered it in all HIV-infected individuals with ulceronodular skin lesions.

Keywords