Open AccessArthropod bite-like eruption as rare presentation of secondary syphilis in an HIV-infected patient
Author(s) -
Chih-Yu Chen,
Yu-Hsuan Lu,
YuChun Lin,
ChihTsung Hung,
Wei Ming Wang,
ChienPing Chiang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
indian journal of dermatology/indian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.395
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1998-3611
pISSN - 0019-5154
DOI - 10.4103/ijd.ijd_522_18
Subject(s) - medicine , syphilis , treponema , skin biopsy , dermatology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , secondary syphilis , presentation (obstetrics) , penicillin , biopsy , immunology , pathology , surgery , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Secondary syphilis represents a diagnostic challenge due to its varied clinical manifestations. Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) adds to the diversity of the clinical presentation of syphilis. We herein report a case of secondary syphilis as an arthropod bite-like eruption in a previously undiagnosed HIV-coinfected patient. A 24-year-old homosexual male presented with multiple corticosteroid-resistant insect bite-like nodules on his trunk and bilateral arms. Skin biopsy disclosed plasma cell infiltration and positive Treponema pallidum staining. His symptoms got dramatic remission after benzathine penicillin G therapy. The presented case extends the clinical spectrum of secondary syphilis in HIV patient.