Open AccessMalignant syphilis with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Author(s) -
Jiby Rajan,
P. V. S. Prasad,
K. Chockalingam,
P K Kaviarasan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
indian dermatology online journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-5673
pISSN - 2229-5178
DOI - 10.4103/2229-5178.79864
Subject(s) - syphilis , treponema , medicine , immunosuppression , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , penicillin , promiscuity , virology , neurosyphilis , immunology , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ecology
Malignant syphilis or Lues maligna, commonly reported in the pre-antibiotic era, has now seen a resurgence with the advent of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Immunosuppression and sexual promiscuity set the stage for this deadly association of HIV and Treponema pallidum that can manifest atypically and can prove to cause diagnostic problems. We report one such case in a 30-year-old female who responded favorably to treatment with penicillin.