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PHOTOFEATURE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 38
| Issue : 2 | Page : 192-193 |
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Alopecia syphilitica
Hsiu-Hui Chiu1, Chieh-Shan Wu2
1 Department of Dermatology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan
2 Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital; Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| Date of Web Publication | 23-Oct-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Chieh-Shan Wu
No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City 81362
Taiwan
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijstd.IJSTD_92_16
 Abstract | | |
Alopecia syphilitica is a less common manifestation of secondary syphilis. It could present with other mucocutaneous symptoms of secondary syphilis or rarely present as the only symptom of secondary syphilis, the so-called “essential syphilitic alopecia.” Herein, we present a case of essential syphilitic alopecia to remind physicians, especially for sexually active patients.
Keywords: Alopecia, alopecia syphilitica, secondary syphilis
How to cite this article:
Chiu HH, Wu CS. Alopecia syphilitica. Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2017;38:192-3 |
A 33-year-old male presented with hair loss for about 6 weeks. On physical examination, the skin of scalp is normal. Diffuse thinning of the hair on the right temporal scalp [Figure 1] and several small, patches of hair loss, compatible with “moth-eaten” alopecia, on the left temporal scalp [Figure 2] were noted. Laboratory evaluation revealed increased titers for rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test of 1:128 and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay test of >1:20480. The diagnosis of alopecia syphilitica was made and he was treated with single intramuscular injections of benzathine penicillin (2.4 million units). Two months later, RPR test decreased to 1:8 and alopecia improved. Alopecia syphilitica is a less common manifestation of secondary syphilis. It could present with other mucocutaneous symptoms of secondary syphilis or rarely present as the only symptom of secondary syphilis, the so-called “essential syphilitic alopecia.” The latter is easily misdiagnosed. Physicians should keep the diagnosis of alopecia syphilitica in mind, especially in a sexually active patient. | Figure 2: Several small, patches of hair loss, compatible with “moth-eaten” alopecia, on the left temporal scalp
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Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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