Oral Syphilis: A Reemerging Infection Prompting Clinicians' Alertness.
Syphilis is a rare but increasing disease. Due to changing sexual habits, presentation of oral manifestations may rise. Since syphilis may mimic other oral manifestations, diagnoses can be difficult. Clinicians need to be aware that ambiguous oral manifestations may in fact be caused by oral syphilis. Here, we present a case of extended diagnostic delay highlighting the importance of consulting an expert in infectious diseases in case of obscure oral lesions not responding to standard treatment. Despite seven visits to six different medical doctors, a patient who presented with oral syphilis was continuously misdiagnosed. After 6 months of increasing complaints and deteriorating severity of disease, the patient was referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon where the correct diagnosis was determined and proper treatment initiated.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 4064, 141 04 Huddinge, Sweden.
Sebastian
S
Dybeck Udd
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 4064, 141 04 Huddinge, Sweden.
Bodil
B
Lund