Latent acquired early syphilis. Case report

Abstract

Introduction: syphilis can be confused with other diseases. The absence of symptoms or non-reactive serology are not exclusive tests for this diagnosis. Therefore, a precise assessment of patients, especially those belonging to risk groups (men who have sex with men) should be carried out as an integral part of prenatal consultation, in order to avoid both late and more serious forms, as well as congenital forms of the infection. The prozone effect search technique is not common in the diagnosis of this disease, but it is very useful.

Objective: to present the case of a patient with non-reactive serology, diagnosed with early acquired latent syphilis.

Case presentation: male patient, husband of a pregnant woman diagnosed with syphilis. He was examined according to Cuban health protocols for prenatal care. His condition was asymptomatic and serology was non-reactive. He was therefore given another test to detect the prozone effect, in addition to the hemagglutination test for Treponema pallidum; both were positive. Patients were treated with benzathine penicillin, and the course of their disease was followed by clinical and serological evaluation.

Conclusions: timely diagnosis of early acquired latent syphilis prevented both maternal-fetal transmission of this disease and the possibility of the other patient developing severe forms. This case provided evidence on the importance of taking into account the possibility of diagnosing syphilis even when the serology is non-reactive. Therefore, verification of the prozone phenomenon is vital to clear up any doubts in this regard.