Don't forget about syphilis: sexually transmitted diseases during COVID-19 pandemic

Di Buduo, Andrea

First

Data Curation

;Atzori, Laura

Second

Writing - Review & Editing

;Pilloni, Luca

Member of the Collaboration Group

;Perla, Stefania

Data Curation

;Rongioletti, Franco

Member of the Collaboration Group

;Ferreli, Caterina

Last

Writing - Review & Editing

2020-01-01

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Abstract

A great heterogeneity of skin manifestations has been increasingly associated with SARS-CoV2 infection, and especially exanthematous eruptions are considered among early presenting signs in symptomatic patients. In this report, a 58-year-old patient presented with fever, generalized rash and systemic symptoms as urgent consultation to the Dermatology Clinic of Cagliari amidst the Italian outbreak in late March 2020. After a negative nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2, secondary syphilis was confirmed by serological tests and skin biopsy, underlining that, even during a global pandemic, other common and important diseases should not be overlooked. The case also suggests thought on the ineffectiveness of distancing and social containment measures when dealing with sexually transmitted diseases.