ORAL FINDINGS IN SECONDARY SYPHILIS

Mário Rodrigues Melo Filho,Breno Amaral Rocha,Rodrigo Soares De Andrade,Edson Da Silva Gusmão,Hercílio Martelli,Edimilson Martins De Freitas

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2019.06.144

Mário Rodrigues Melo Filho, Breno Amaral Rocha + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2019.06.144

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Abstract

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. However, there are hematogenous and vertical transmissions. All health care professionals must be aware of the manifestations of this condition, such as oral lesions. This study aims to analyze and compare 4 clinical cases of syphilis diagnosed based on lesions in the oral cavity with the current published literature. Four patients with a confirmed serologic and clinical diagnosis of syphilis, and confirmed manifestation of oral lesions, were evaluated. Lesions were found on the lips, tongue, and skin. However, there were also lesions on the hard palate and labial commissure, which correspond to less than 5% of the syphilis oral manifestations. The practice of unprotected oral sex may result in infection and development of syphilis. The knowledge of the oral manifestations of syphilis is of major importance, the association of clinical features, histopathologic findings, and serologic tests are required to complete the diagnosis and correct treatment.

Highlights

Syphilis is a systemic bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum
An important characteristic of the syphilitic lesion of the oral cavity is the absence of painful symptomatology; this condition must be differentiated from squamous cell carcinoma, a common malignant neoplasm in this anatomical region [3]
The objective of this study is to report four clinical cases of secundary syphilis that was diagnosed based on oral lesions

Summary

Introduction

Syphilis is a systemic bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. It is estimated that there are more than 12 million cases per year in the world, out of which 900 thousand are in Brazil [1]. In many cases, one of the first signs of the disease and can guide the correct and early diagnosis, which is of great importance for the treatment of this condition [1]. Secondary syphilis are headache, tearing, nasal secretion, pharyngitis, generalized arthralgia and myalgia [4] The disease, at this stage, is characterized by systemic involvement and diffuse and painless maculopapular cutaneous rash called syphilitic rosette [5]. In the oral cavity, oral chancre manifests as a self-limiting unspecific ulcer mostly affecting tongue, lips and commissure, characterizing primary syphilis [4]. The acknowledgment of the oral manifestations of syphilis in all its period of training for health professionals is of basic importance, the association of clinical features, histopathological findings and serological tests are required to complete the diagnosis and correct treatment

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