Journal article
Unique Presentation of Syphilis With Ocular Involvement: A Case Report
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, v 15(5)
09 May 2023
PMID: 37303323
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Ocular syphilis could be the first sign of undiagnosed syphilis. In addition to otosyphilis, it can be observed in the primary, secondary, or tertiary stages of syphilis. Nonspecific clinical symptoms make diagnosis difficult. We report a patient who presented with generalized weakness and blurry vision for the past four to five days. In this case, we emphasize the importance of repeated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations as they led to the diagnosis of ocular syphilis and appropriate neurosyphilis treatment. It must be suspected in patients with primary or secondary neurological symptoms, such as blurred vision and weakness. Treponema, the causative organism, is invisible under light microscopy and is mostly identified by its distinct spiral movements under darkfield microscopy. Once the diagnosis was made, the patient was started on penicillin treatment to prevent spread to the brain and dorsal spinal cord. The patient responded well to antibiotic treatment, with improvement in visual acuity, and was discharged with close neurological and ophthalmological follow-up.
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Details
- Title
- Unique Presentation of Syphilis With Ocular Involvement: A Case Report
- Publication Details
- CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, v 15(5)
- Publisher
- SPRINGERNATURE; LONDON
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001007611800027
- Other Identifier
- 991021861310304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Microbiology