Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Part 54

In what respects do the early (or secondary) eruptions of syphilis differ from those following several years or more after the contraction of the disease?

The early or secondary eruptions are more or less generalized, with rarely any attempt at special configuration. Their appearance is often preceded by symptoms of systemic disturbance, such as fever, loss of appet.i.te, muscular pains and headache; and accompanied by concomitant signs of the disease, such as enlargement of the lymphatic glands, sore throat, mucous patches, falling of the hair and rheumatic pains.

State the distinguishing characters of the late eruptions.

The late eruptions (those following one or more years after the contraction of the disease) are usually of tubercular, gummatous or ulcerative type; are limited in extent, and have a marked tendency to appear in circular, semicircular or crescentic forms or groups. Pain in the bones, bone lesions and other symptoms may or may not be present.

What is the color of syphilitic lesions?

Usually, a dull brownish-red or ham-red, with at times a yellowish cast.

Are there any subjective symptoms in syphilitic eruptions?

As a rule, no; but in exceptional instances of the generalized eruptions, more especially in negroes, there may be slight itching.

Describe the macular, or erythematous, eruption of syphilis.

The _macular syphiloderm_ is a general eruption, showing itself usually six or eight weeks after the appearance of the chancre. It consists of small or large, commonly pea- or bean-sized, rounded or irregularly-shaped, not infrequently slightly raised, macules. When well established they do not entirely disappear under pressure. At first a pale-pink or dull, violaceous red, they later become yellowish or coppery. The eruption is generally profuse; the face, backs of the hands and feet may escape. It persists several weeks or one or two months; as a rule, it is rapidly responsive to treatment.

How would you distinguish the macular syphiloderm from measles, rotheln and tinea versicolor?

Measles is to be differentiated by its catarrhal symptoms, fever, form and situation of the eruption; rotheln, by its small, roundish, confluent pinkish or reddish patches, its precursory pyrexic symptoms, its epidemic nature, and short duration; tinea versicolor by its scaliness, peripheral growth, distribution and history.

And, finally, by the absence or presence of other symptoms of syphilis.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 51. Macular Syphiloderm.]

What several varieties of the papular eruption of syphilis are met with?

There are two forms of the papular eruption--the small and large; those of the latter type may undergo various modifications.

Describe the small-papular eruption of syphilis.

The _small-papular syphiloderm_ (_miliary papular syphiloderm_) usually shows itself in the third or fourth month of the disease, and consists of a more or less generalized eruption of disseminated or grouped, firm, rounded or ac.u.minated pin-head to millet-seed-sized papules, with smooth or slightly scaly summits, and in some lesions showing pointed pustulation. Scattered minute pustules and some large papules are usually present. The eruption is profuse, most abundant upon the trunk and limbs; and in the early part of the outbreak is of a bright- or dull-red color, later a.s.suming a violaceous or brownish tint. It runs a chronic course, is somewhat rebellious to treatment, and displays a tendency to relapse.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 52. Moist Papules. (_After Miller._)]

How would you distinguish the small-papular syphiloderm from keratosis pilaris, psoriasis punctata, papular eczema, and lichen ruber?

The distribution and extent of the eruption, the color, the grouping, with usually the presence of pustules and large papules and other concomitant symptoms of syphilis, are points of difference. Pustules never occur in the several diseases named, except in eczema.

Describe the large-papular eruption of syphilis.

The _large-papular syphiloderm_ (or _lenticular syphiloderm_) is a common form of cutaneous syphilis, appearing usually in the first six or eight months, and consists of a more or less generalized eruption of pea- to dime-sized or larger, flat, rounded or oval, firmly seated, more or less raised, dull-red papules; with at first a smooth surface, which later usually becomes covered with a film of exfoliating epidermis. The papules, as a rule, develop slowly, remain stationary several weeks or a few months, and then pa.s.s away by absorption, leaving slight pigmentation, which gradually fades; or they may undergo certain modifications. In most cases it responds rapidly to treatment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Small-papular Syphiloderm.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 53. Palmar Syphiloderm.]

What modifications do the papules of the large-papular syphiloderm sometimes undergo?

They may change into the moist papule and squamous papule.

Describe the moist papule of syphilis.

The change into the moist papule (also called _mucous patch, flat condyloma_) is not uncommon where opposing surfaces and natural folds of skin are subjected to more or less contact, as about the a.n.u.s, the scroto-femoral regions, umbilicus, axillae and beneath the mammae. The dry, flat papules gradually become moist and covered with a grayish, sticky, mucoid secretion; several may coalesce and form large, flat patches. They may so remain, or they may become hypertrophic, warty or papillomatous, with more or less crust formation (_vegetating syphiloderm_).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 54. Annular Syphiloderm. (_After I.E. Atkinson._)]

Describe the squamous papule of syphilis.

This tendency of the large-papular eruption to become scaly, when exhibited, is more or less common to all papules, and const.i.tutes the _squamous_ or _papulo-squamous syphiloderm_ (improperly called _psoriasis syphilitica_). The papules become somewhat flattened and are covered with dry, grayish or dirty-gray, somewhat adherent scales. The scaling, as compared to that of psoriasis, is, as a rule, relatively slight. The eruption may be general, as usually the case in the earlier months of the disease, or it may appear as a relapse or a later manifestation, and be limited in extent.

As a limited eruption it is most frequently seen on the palms and soles--the _palmar and plantar syphiloderm_. Occurring on these parts it is often rebellious to treatment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Maculo-papular syphiloderm.]

How are you to distinguish the papulo-squamous syphiloderm from psoriasis?

In psoriasis the eruption is more inflammatory, and usually bright red; the scales whitish or pearl-colored and, as a rule, abundant. It is generally seen in greater profusion upon certain parts, as, for instance, the extensor surfaces, especially of the elbows and knees. It is not infrequently itchy, and, moreover, presents a different history.

In the syphilitic eruption some of the papules almost invariably remain perfectly free from any tendency to scale formation; there is distinct deposit or infiltration, and the lesions are of a dark, sluggish red or ham tint; and, moreover, concomitant symptoms of syphilis are usually present.

Describe the annular eruption of syphilis.

The _annular syphiloderm_ (_circinate syphiloderm_) is observed usually in a.s.sociation with the large-papular eruption, and consists of several or more variously sized, ring-like lesions, with a distinctly elevated solid ridge or wall peripherally and a more or less flattened centre. It is commonly seen about the mouth, forehead and neck. The lesion appears to have its origin from an ordinary, usually scaleless or slightly scaly, large papule, the central portion of which has been incompletely formed or has become sunken and flattened. The manifestation is rare, and is seen most frequently in the negro.

What several varieties of the pustular syphiloderm are met with?

The small ac.u.minated-pustular syphiloderm, the large ac.u.minated-pustular syphiloderm, the small flat-pustular syphiloderm, and the large flat-pustular syphiloderm.

Describe the small ac.u.minated-pustular eruption of syphilis.