Abstract
BackgroundSyphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection of the spirochete, Treponema pallidum. While primary syphilis often involves genitalia, oral manifestations are observed in a subset of patients. These lesions are often associated with submandibular and cervical lymphadenopathy. This is a case report of a primary syphilitic lesion located on the hard palate of the oral cavity, with only a very few cases described previously.Case presentationWe describe a rare case of syphilis in a 59-year-old African American man presenting with subjective fevers, chills, marked submental lymphadenopathy, a diffuse skin rash, and an ulcer of the hard palate.ConclusionsThis case report demonstrates the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for syphilitic infection when a patient presents with nonspecific symptoms, a diffuse rash, and an oral lesion.
Highlights
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection of the spirochete, Treponema pallidum
Chancres are typically found on the genitalia, oral lesions are observed in a subset of patients who engage in oral sex
We describe a rare case of syphilis presenting with subjective fevers, chills, marked submental lymphadenopathy, a diffuse skin rash, and an ulcer of the hard palate
Summary
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection of the spirochete, Treponema pallidum. We describe a rare case of syphilis presenting with subjective fevers, chills, marked submental lymphadenopathy, a diffuse skin rash, and an ulcer of the hard palate This is a rare report of a primary syphilitic lesion located on the hard palate of the oral cavity, with only a very few cases described previously [3,4,5]. A review of systems was positive for dysphagia, sore throat, and significant weight loss He reported a history of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and explained that he developed a cluster of multiple small, painful blisters on his penis 2 weeks prior to presentation but denied any other new genital lesions. He received a single dose of 2.4 million units benzathine penicillin G intramuscularly and experienced marked improvement of his malaise and sore throat over the
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