Disabling complications of primary syphilis in a 34-year-old woman living with HIV

Abstract

A 34-year-old woman managed at the department of skin and venereal diseases was diagnosised with primary syphilis (with gangrenisation and phagedenisation of the hard chancre) and HIV co-infection. In the nasolabial triangle area there was a large ulcerated defect of an irregular configuration and with dense crusts of brown-black colour, transiting to the nasal septum. The complete scarring of the chancre was observed on the 17th day. Complications of syphilis can have physical, psychological and social consequences and even lead to disability.