Syphilitic aseptic meningitis

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Central nervous system

Syphilitic aseptic meningitis is a complication of untreated syphilis that involves inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. People with this condition have changes in mental status and problems with nerve function.

Meningitis - syphilitic

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted, infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Syphilis has three main stages:

• Primary syphilis
• Secondary syphilis
• Tertiary syphilis

Syphilitic aseptic meningitis is a form of meningovascular neurosyphilis, which is a progressive, life-threatening complication of syphilis infection.

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The disorder is similar to meningitis caused by other conditions.

Risks for syphilitic aseptic meningitis include previous infection with syphilis or other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea. Syphilis infections are mainly transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person, but they may sometimes be transmitted by nonsexual contact.

Review Date: 08/30/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).