neurosyphilis

Neurosyphilis is the infection of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes the sexually transmitted infection syphilis. In the era of modern antibiotics, the majority of neurosyphilis cases have been reported in HIV-infected patients.

Key facts

Medical condition (new).image: Skull damage from neurosyphilis.jpg
Medical condition (new).caption: Section of human skull damaged by late stages of neurosyphilis
Medical condition (new).specialty: Neurology, infectious diseases
Medical condition (new).symptoms: Headache, stiff neck, paresthesia, loss of bladder control, personality and mood changes
Medical condition (new).causes: Treponema pallidum
Medical condition (new).risks: HIV infection, unprotected sex
Medical condition (new).treatment: Antibiotics (penicillin G or ceftriaxone)

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

5,167 papers

State-of-the-Art Review: Neurosyphilis.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2024
Neurosyphilis.

Article

11 sections

Contents

Signs and symptoms
Early and intermediate neurosyphilis
Late neurosyphilis
Ocular syphilis and otosyphilis
Risk factors
Pathophysiology
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
History
References

Neurosyphilis may present a variety of symptoms that depend on the affected structure of the central nervous system. While early neurosyphilis is often asymptomatic, meningitis is the most common neurological presentation of the early stage. Late neurosyphilis typically involves the brain and spinal cord parenchyma, manifesting as tabes dorsalis and general paresis. Tertiary syphilis can involve several different organ systems, though neurosyphilis may occur at any stage of infection.