Oral manifestation of syphilis

Abstract

Introduction: syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease with an annual incidence of 12 million people worldwide. In Brazil, there are increasing rates of infant mortality and incidence due to this disease. Objective: to report a case of primary syphilis with manifestation in the mouth. Case report: patient 50-years-old, male, homosexual with a complaint of an asymptomatic lesion on the lower left lip for about 2 months. In the intraoral physical examination, it was observed ulcerated lesion, with white-yellowish pseudomembrane, non-suppurative with hardened, elevated and badly-delimited edges measuring approximately 3 cm on the lower left lip. An incisional biopsy of the lesion was carried out and it was prescribed high doses of prednisolone, but without success. During follow-up, erythematous lesions target-shaped appeared in the palmar region and the resulting histopathological report showed ulcerated lichenoid cheilitis. Hematological exams confirmed positive for syphilis in the VDRL test. The treatment was penicillin G benzathine for 3 weeks. Conclusions: in the present case, the syphilitic lesion has clinical characteristics common to other diseases. Thus, dentists should know their clinical manifestations, that would aid in early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

• sexually transmitted diseases
• syphilis
• mouth.