Medical experts at Saint Mary's Hospital in Montreal, Canada, reported the case of a man admitted with a full-body rash following sexual intercourse, according to Financial News on 6/1.
A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) detailed how the rash first appeared on the man's abdomen and spread across his entire body within one week. During the first week of the rash's onset, he visited a clinic and received a diagnosis of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by red plaques with silvery scales. However, after using the prescribed ointment, his symptoms worsened instead of improving, prompting him to seek hospital care.
Suspecting an infectious disease component, doctors ordered tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Both HIV antibody and VDRL (syphilis screening) tests returned positive results, according to CMAJ. The patient received intramuscular penicillin injections once a week for 3 weeks. Follow-up examinations after 5 weeks of treatment showed significant improvement in the rash.
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and is transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to child. The disease progresses through three main stages, each with distinct clinical manifestations. The first stage involves the appearance of a single, painless sore (chancre) on the genitals. In the second stage, patients develop diverse rashes, red or white spots, accompanied by aches and pains. Late-stage syphilis can cause severe damage to internal organs.
Syphilis treatment varies depending on the extent of bacterial invasion. In the initial stage, patients typically require only one intramuscular penicillin injection. However, if the spirochete has invaded the nervous system, treatment becomes more complex, involving an intravenous penicillin regimen for 10-14 days.
Doctors advise that the blood and bodily fluids of infected individuals are highly contagious, necessitating isolation of the infection source. Those who have had close contact or sexual relations with an infected person should undergo immediate testing and treatment to prevent dangerous complications.
Binh Minh (According to Financial News, CMAJ)
