Learn About Neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is a bacterial infection of the brain or spinal cord. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years.
Syphilis - neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria. Neurosyphilis usually occurs about 10 to 20 years after a person is first infected with syphilis. Not everyone who has syphilis develops this complication.
There are four different forms of neurosyphilis:
- Asymptomatic (most common form)
- General paresis
- Meningovascular
- Tabes dorsalis
Asymptomatic neurosyphilis occurs before symptomatic syphilis. Asymptomatic means there aren't any symptoms.
Symptoms usually affect the nervous system. Depending on the form of neurosyphilis, symptoms may include any of the following:
- Abnormal walk (gait), or unable to walk
- Numbness in the toes, feet, or legs
- Problems with thinking, such as confusion or poor concentration
- Mental problems, such as depression or irritability
- Headache, seizures, or stiff neck
- Loss of bladder control (incontinence)
- Tremors, or weakness
- Visual problems, even blindness
Penicillin (an antibiotic) is used to treat neurosyphilis. It can be given in different ways:
- Injected into a vein several times a day for 10 to 14 days.
- By mouth 4 times a day, combined with daily muscle injections, both taken for 10 to 14 days.
You must have follow-up blood tests at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months to make sure the infection is gone. You will need follow-up lumbar punctures for CSF analysis every 6 months. If you have HIV/AIDS or another medical condition, your follow-up schedule may be different.
Christina Marra is a Neurologist in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Marra is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurosyphilis. Her top areas of expertise are Neurosyphilis, Syphilis, Syphilitic Aseptic Meningitis, and Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Dr. Marra is currently accepting new patients.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Shelia Dunaway is an Infectious Disease provider in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Dunaway is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurosyphilis. Her top areas of expertise are Neurosyphilis, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, and Infectious Arthritis. Dr. Dunaway is currently accepting new patients.
Swedish Health Services
Emily Ho is a Neurologist in Issaquah, Washington. Dr. Ho is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurosyphilis. Her top areas of expertise are Neurosyphilis, Syphilis, Stroke, Splenic Infarction, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Ho is currently accepting new patients.
Neurosyphilis is a life-threatening complication of syphilis. How well you do depends on how severe the neurosyphilis is before treatment. The goal of treatment is to prevent further deterioration. Many of these changes will be permanent.
The symptoms can slowly worsen.
Contact your provider if you have had syphilis in the past and now have signs of nervous system problems.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the original syphilis infection can prevent neurosyphilis.
Summary: The goal of this observational study is to identify diagnostic biomarkers for neurosyphilis in patients with the condition. The main questions it aims to answer are: What plasma biomarkers are associated with neurosyphilis? What electrophysiological characteristics (EEG and eye movement) are linked to neurosyphilis? Researchers will compare biomarker data from plasma and gut microbiome analyses wi...
Summary: The Danish Study Group of Infections of the Brain is a collaboration between all departments of infectious diseases in Denmark. The investigators aim to monitor epidemiological trends in central nervous system (CNS) infections by a prospective registration of clinical characteristics and outcome of all adult (\>17 years of age) patients with community-acquired CNS infections diagnosed and/or treat...
Published Date: November 10, 2024
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Neurosyphilis. www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/neurosyphilis. Updated July 19, 2024. Accessed November 27, 2024.
Radolf JD, Tramont EC, Salazar JC. Syphilis (Treponema pallidum). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 237.