The Great Imitator Revealed: Syphilis

Rates of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in the United States. The lesions of early syphilis can be mistaken for those of other infections and conditions, and syphilis should be suspected in all sexually active patients presenting with a new skin rash or an oral or genital lesion. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of syphilis as well as rapid identification and treatment of sexual contacts are needed to reverse the trend of increasing incidence. Available data indicate success in reducing acquisition of syphilis with doxycycline pre- and postexposure prophylaxis. This article is based on a presentation by Jeffrey D. Klausner, MD, MPH, at the 2018 Clinical Conference at the National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment in December 2018