Secondary Syphilis in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

Secondary Syphilis is characterized by a wide variety of dermatological manifestations that can mimic any disease. The diagnosis is clinical, and serological tests help to confirm it and assess the response to treatment.

Skin lesions with an arciform morphology are a manifestation of the secondary syphilis that occurs in cases of recurrent secondary syphilis. When concomitant with the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus, the lesions are atypical and more extensive, and are usually accompanied by high fever, other skin lesions, mucous membranes affectation and adnexal involvement. It is presented a 27-year-old male patient with secondary syphilis, arciform skin lesions and physical deterioration, who was also found to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The case is presented because of the importance of always thinking about the coexistence of a human immunodeficiency virus infection in a patient with syphilis.