Keywords
Skin lesions
Differential diagnosis
Coinfection
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Abstract
Objective: To identify and describe the different types of cutaneous lesions associated with secondary syphilis, analyzing their clinical characteristics, prevalence, and diagnostic relevance, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dermatological manifestations of this disease stage. Methods: The review was conducted using scientific articles available in the PubMed database, published between 2014 and 2024. Specific terms, such as "secondary syphilis" and "cutaneous lesions," were combined with the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." Inclusion criteria encompassed articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish discussing typical and atypical cutaneous manifestations of secondary syphilis. In total, 13 articles were selected for comprehensive analysis. Results: Key cutaneous lesions, such as maculopapular eruptions, condylomata lata, and annular lesions, were identified and analyzed. Atypical presentations, such as syphilitic alopecia and malignant syphilis, were also observed, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. The importance of differential diagnosis was highlighted, especially in cases of HIV coinfection, which may present with more severe and diagnostically challenging manifestations. Conclusions: Early recognition of the cutaneous lesions of secondary syphilis is crucial to prevent complications and improve clinical management, contributing to the prevention of progression to more severe stages and reducing infection transmission.
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