Question

A patient presents with a rash that covers the entire body, including the soles of his feet, and mentions that about month prior the patient had a painless hard "spot" on his genitals that went away after about two weeks. What is your suspected diagnosis?     

Select one:

a. Chlamydial urethritis

b. Gonorrhea

c. Meningitis

d. Syphilis

Answer 1

d) Syphilis

Syphilis is a systemic, sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum bacterium.

Symptoms of syphilis are absent in some people. The first sign of syphilis painless, smooth sore at the site of infection followed by rashes that cover the entire body.

In primary syphilis, primary lesion or chancre develop at site of inoculation.

* progresses from macule to papule and then to ulcer.

* Typically painless, indurated and has clean base.

* Highly infectious

In secondary syphilis, lesions occur 3 to 6 weeks after the primary chancre appears.

Manifestation

* Rashes( 75% - 100%)

*Lymphadenopathy ( 50% -86%)

*Mucous patches (6% - 30%)

*Alopecia (5%)

In latent syphilis, host supresses the infection so that no lesions are clinically apparent.

Tertiary ( late) syphilis, approximately 30% of untreated patients progress to the tertiary stage within 1 to 20 years.

Manifestation

*Gummatous syphilis (15%)

*Cardiovascular syphilis (10%)

*Late neurosyphilis (6.5%)

Common symptoms of chlamydial urethritis

▪Urethral discharge

▪pain or burning sensation while urinating

▪Tingling or itching of urethra.

▪Swollen lymph node in groin area.

Common symptoms of gonorrhea includes:

▪swelling and redness of genito urinary tract.

▪ pain while urinating

▪ pus like discharges is observed.

▪yellow vaginal discharge

Common symptoms of meningitis are

▪Fever

▪vomiting, joint pain

▪Rashes

▪ Seizures

▪Light sensitivity