Syphilis: then and now

Abstract

Getting to know the history of syphilis should begin with an attempt to establish the original source of its spread throughout the world. The dispute about the origin of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum (subspecies pallidum), had not been resolved even as late as in the twenty-first century, and to this day the supporters and opponents of the thesis that syphilis was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus’ sailors have been fighting without solid and sustainable foundations. The French named syphilis “the Neapolitan disease”, while the Italians called it “the French disease”.

An unusual case of tertiary syphilis

“…Although syphilis can present with a variety of manifestations (leading to it being nicknamed ‘the great imitator’), 2 it can be divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. All stages of syphilis require treatment 3 . We present a rare case of tertiary syphilis in our clinical practice.…”

“…All stages of syphilis require treatment. 3 We present a rare case of tertiary syphilis in our clinical practice.…”

“…Several cases of FFA coexisting with CLE have been reported in the literature, and the clinical and histopathological distinction between both conditions can be challenging. 3 Proinflammatory immune pathways, including Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling, is upregulated in a variety of inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus, vitiligo, alopecia areata, systemic lupus erythematosus and CLE. 4,5 In our patient, JAK1-specific inhibition of interferon-mediated inflammation might have been the key mechanism of baricitinib-induced improvement of both SCLE and FFA.…”

Desafios e atualizações no manejo da sífilis: impacto na saúde da população em geral, gestantes e neonatos

“…As localizações das lesões desse estágio da doença são geralmente em genitália, mas pode ocorrer em região perianal, lábios, língua, mucosa oral, gengiva, faringe, amígdalas e dedos. Associado ao quadro cutâneo, pode ocorrer linfadenomegalia regional por várias semanas, caracterizada por linfonodos endurecidos, bem delimitados, indolores, fibroelásticos e móveis (KATARZYNA PLAGENS-ROTMAN et al, 2021;KHAN et al, 2023).…”

Challenges in the Diagnosis of Tertiary Syphilis: Case Report with Literature Review

“…In recent years, the incidence of syphilis has been on the rise in Poland and globally, which is probably related to the higher number of risky sexual encounters with random people, especially among homosexual men (MSM—men who have sex with men) [ 4 , 5 ]. The most common way syphilis is spread is through sexual contact (sexual intercourse, kisses) when the bacteria enter the body through mucus membranes or broken skin [ 6 ]. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1971 showed that during 30 days of observation the risk of becoming infected with syphilis through sexual contact with an infected person is 30% [ 7 ].…”