Abstract
This report provides an overview of the venereal (syphilis) and endemic treponematoses in the developing world. Endemic treponematoses predominantly affect children in the poorest rural communities of the tropic belt whereas syphilis is a universal disease that may affect newborns and sexually active persons of any age in any country of the world. The epidemiology clinical manifestations and treatment of venereal syphilis are discussed. Of special importance to this class of disease are its ocular manifestations due to the fact that treponematoses seem to be able to thrive in all layers of the eye including the retina and choroid. The prevalence of HIV infection and of syphilis is high in many countries of the developing world and syphilitic chancres like any genital ulceration increase the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. The diagnosis clinical features ophthalmologic manifestations and treatment for a variety of endemic treponematoses are discussed including pinta bejel and yaws. Finally the author suggests that the scarcity of information about syphilis and ophthalmology should motivate those in the field to further investigate ocular morbidity in patients with endemic treponematoses.
Published Version
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