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Secondary Headache in Secondary Syphilis
Author(s) -
Blitshteyn Svetlana
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01295.x
Subject(s) - syphilis , medicine , maculopapular rash , rash , secondary syphilis , headaches , dermatology , differential diagnosis , pediatrics , incidence (geometry) , surgery , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , virology , pathology , physics , optics
We describe a patient with a history of recurrent headaches who developed severe and persistent left fronto‐orbital and vertex head pain, in conjunction with a maculopapular rash, and was subsequently diagnosed with secondary syphilis. With the incidence of syphilis recently on the rise, we suggest that secondary syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient who presents with headache and a rash. Serologic screening tests for syphilis and a dermatology consultation should be obtained promptly for diagnostic confirmation and institution of treatment with antibiotics.