HIV-associated neurosyphilis: report of a fatal case due to fear of work-place stigma.
Syphilis and HIV infection are two STI diseases that have bidirectional influence on the clinical course of each other. There is a high risk of neurological extension if syphilis is not diagnosed early or if the patient has a co-infection with HIV. Both diseases have stigma associated with them and could affect the compliance to treatment, as was the case with this young employee of the medical department of a Nigerian tertiary hospital. He was diagnosed with HIV/ neurosyphilis co-infection and responded to penicillin therapy, but the fear of stigma at his workplace has made him to abandon hospital treatment for unorthodox therapy, which unfortunately cost him his life.
Salami
A K
AK
Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Ilorin-Kwara State, Nigeria. salkaz2000@yahoo.com
Isa
M B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005239:Fear; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011287:Prejudice; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D017132:Workplace
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents