Open AccessThe Signs and Symptoms of Secondary Syphilis
Author(s) -
Thomas A. Chapel
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
sexually transmitted diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.507
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1537-4521
pISSN - 0148-5717
DOI - 10.1097/00007435-198010000-00002
Subject(s) - medicine , mucocutaneous zone , dermatology , hair loss , syphilis , sore throat , papulopustular , secondary syphilis , scalp , maculopapular rash , surgery , disease , pathology , rash , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , rosacea , family medicine , acne
The signs and symptoms of 105 patients with secondary syphilis were evaluated in a clinic for treatment of sexually transmissible diseases. The symptoms were, in order of decreasing frequency, pruritus, 44 patients; sore throat, 16; headache, nine; muscle aches, nine; fever, five; meningismus, three; loss of scalp hair, three; loss of appetite, two; loss of weight, two; and visual disturbances, one. The dominant morphologic characteristics of the lesions, in order of decreasing frequency, were maculopapular, 73 patients; papular, 13; macular, 10; annular papular, six; papulopustular, two; and psoriasiform papular, one. Almost a fourth of the patients were not aware that they had mucocutaneous lesions, and > 20% of patients had inconspicuous lesions. The distributions and morphologic features of the lesions of eight patients (7.6%) suggested other dermatoses.