Myositis as an Unusual Presentation of Secondary Syphilis
Myositis as an Unusual Presentation of Secondary Syphilis
Myositis is a complication of many infectious and noninfectious processes. Secondary syphilis is an uncommon cause of myositis, and, therefore, the diagnosis may be delayed. We describe a man with human immunodeficiency virus infection presenting with diffuse muscle injury secondary to syphilis. He had complete resolution of all signs and symptoms after treatment with intravenous penicillin.
The protean manifestations of syphilis have been well described in the literature. The diagnosis must be considered in evaluating diseases of almost every organ system. Rare presentations of syphilis pose a diagnostic challenge, and the diagnosis may be missed or delayed. While physicians have been trained to include syphilis in the differential diagnosis of a broad range of symptoms, there are still some presentations that may surprise even experienced clinicians. We describe a case of syphilitic myositis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected man.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Myositis is a complication of many infectious and noninfectious processes. Secondary syphilis is an uncommon cause of myositis, and, therefore, the diagnosis may be delayed. We describe a man with human immunodeficiency virus infection presenting with diffuse muscle injury secondary to syphilis. He had complete resolution of all signs and symptoms after treatment with intravenous penicillin.
Introduction
The protean manifestations of syphilis have been well described in the literature. The diagnosis must be considered in evaluating diseases of almost every organ system. Rare presentations of syphilis pose a diagnostic challenge, and the diagnosis may be missed or delayed. While physicians have been trained to include syphilis in the differential diagnosis of a broad range of symptoms, there are still some presentations that may surprise even experienced clinicians. We describe a case of syphilitic myositis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected man.
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