Case report of secondary syphilis in a fifteen year old boy
Syphilis is a sexual transmitted infection caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum. We report a case of a fifteen-year-old boy with secondary syphilis. A boy from a poor socioeconomic background presented with a non-healing growth on his penis of about one-month duration. On examination, a condyl...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sljid.sljol.info/articles/8189 |
| Summary: | Syphilis is a sexual transmitted infection caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum. We report a case of a fifteen-year-old boy with secondary syphilis. A boy from a poor socioeconomic background presented with a non-healing growth on his penis of about one-month duration. On examination, a condylomata lata was found on the inner aspect of the prepuce, which is a clinical feature of secondary syphilis. He had generalized lymphadenopathy, but had no other clinical features of secondary syphilis. His Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test titre was reactive at 1:128. The Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination (TPPA) test was strongly positive, confirming the diagnosis of a treponemal infection. The recommended treatment of a single dose of benzathine penicillin, 2.4 million units was administered intramuscularly. He did not develop a Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction. The lesion on his penis healed within a week of treatment. Follow up VDRL titres were 1:8, 1:4, 1:2 and non-reactive at three months, six months, one year and two years, respectively. Though this was clearly a case of child sexual abuse, the legal system could not be activated because the child categorically denied being abused or having any form of sexual contact. |
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| ISSN: | 2012-8169 2448-9654 |