ABSTRACT
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochaete Treponema pallidum. Syphilis re-emerged worldwide in the late 1990s, and hereafter increasing rates of syphilis were seen also in Denmark. Currently, around 700 cases are diagnosed yearly in Denmark, and syphilis is mainly encountered among men, who have sex with men. However, because of the risk of congenital infection screening of pregnant women has been introduced. Syphilis gives rise to highly variable symptoms such as chancre, skin rashes and fever or latent infection. The recommended treatment is intramuscular administration of penicillin.
Subject(s)
Syphilis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Coinfection/epidemiology , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Humans , Injections, Intramuscular , Male , Penicillins/administration & dosage , Penicillins/therapeutic use , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/prevention & control , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Syphilis/diagnosis , Syphilis/drug therapy , Syphilis/epidemiology , Syphilis/pathology , Syphilis, Congenital/prevention & control , Treponema pallidum/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
We present two cases of phototoxic onycholysis secondary to doxycycline treatment as malaria prophylaxis. Onycholysis is a rare side-effect to treatment with doxycycline and other tetracyclines. Some physicians are unaware of this risk. Due to the increasing travel activity to malaria endemic regions, it is important to be aware of the side effects - including onycholysis - following the use of tetracyclines and it is essential to inform the patients of such effects. Spontaneous recovery follows within a few months after discontinuing the drug and there is no need for further treatment.
