Pediatric Syphilis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Muhammad Waseem, MD; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 29, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Diagnostic considerations in patients with possible syphilis include the following:

  • Anthrax
  • Bejel
  • Granuloma inguinale
  • Lymphogranuloma venereum
  • Pinta
  • Rat-bite fever
  • Relapsing fever
  • Sepsis
  • Venereal warts
  • Yaws

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Muhammad Waseem, MD  Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in Clinical Pediatrics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, Bronx Lebanon Hospital; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center

Muhammad Waseem, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Heart Association, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Muhammad Aslam, MD  Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Staff Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston

Muhammad Aslam, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Medical Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Leslie L Barton, MD  Professor Emerita of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Leslie L Barton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congenital syphilis - United States, 2003-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Apr 16 2010;59(14):413-7. [Medline].

  2. Heffelfinger JD, Swint EB, Berman SM, Weinstock HS. Trends in primary and secondary syphilis among men who have sex with men in the United States. Am J Public Health. Jun 2007;97(6):1076-83. [Medline].

  3. Vasquez-Manzanilla O, Dickson-Gonzalez SM, Salas JG, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Arria M. Congenital syphilis in valera, Venezuela. J Trop Pediatr. Aug 2007;53(4):274-7. [Medline].

  4. Sena AC, Muth SQ, Heffelfinger JD, et al. Factors and the sociosexual network associated with a syphilis outbreak in rural North Carolina. Sex Transm Dis. May 2007;34(5):280-7. [Medline].

  5. Klig JE. Ophthalmologic complications of systemic disease. Emerg Med Clin North Am. Feburary 2008;26(1):217-231. [Medline].

  6. Taiwo SS, Adesiji YO, Adekanle DA. Screening for syphilis during pregnancy in Nigeria: a practice that must continue. Sex Transm Infect. Aug 2007;83(5):357-8. [Medline].

  7. [Guideline] American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians. Guidelines for Perinatal Care. 5th ed. 2002.

  8. [Guideline] Screening for syphilis infection in pregnancy: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmation recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. May 19 2009;150(10):705-9. [Medline].

  9. American Academy of Pediatrics. Syphillis. In: Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 26th ed. 2003:595-607.

  10. American Academy of Pediatrics. Syphillis. In: Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 29th ed. 2009:639.

  11. Knight CS, Crum MA, Hardy RW. Evaluation of the LIAISON Treponema Assay, a Chemiluminescent Immunoassay for the Diagnosis of Syphilis. Clin Vaccine Immunol. Apr 25 2007;[Medline].

  12. Woznicova V, Valisova Z. Performance of CAPTIA SelectSyph-G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in syphilis testing of a high-risk population: analysis of discordant results. J Clin Microbiol. Jun 2007;45(6):1794-7. [Medline].

  13. Kandelaki G, Kapila R, Fernandes H. Destructive osteomyelitis associated with early secondary syphilis in an HIV-positive patient diagnosed by Treponema pallidum DNA polymerase chain reaction. AIDS Patient Care STDS. Apr 2007;21(4):229-33. [Medline].

  14. Wong T, Singh AE, De P. Primary syphilis: serological treatment response to doxycycline/tetracycline versus benzathine penicillin. Am J Med. October 2008;121(10):903-908. [Medline].

  15. Bai ZG, Yang KH, Liu YL, et al. Azithromycin vs. benzathine penicillin G for early syphilis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Int J STD AIDS. April 2008;19(4):217-221. [Medline].

  16. Chau J, Atashband S, Chang E, Westerberg BD, Kozak FK. A systematic review of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss in congenital syphilis. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. March 2009;[Medline].

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These photographs show close-up images of gummas observed in tertiary syphilis. Used with permission from Wisdom A. Color Atlas of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Year Book Medical Publishers Inc; 1989.
These photographs illustrate examples of condylomata lata. The lesions resemble genital warts (condylomata acuminata). Fluids exuding from these lesions are highly infectious. Used with permission from Wisdom A. Color Atlas of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Year Book Medical Publishers Inc; 1989.
 
 
 
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