Neurosyphilis

Symptoms:

• headache
• stiff neck
• irritability
• poor concentration
• mental confusion
• depression
• visual disturbances
• abnormal reflexes
• abnormal gait (walk)
• incontinence
• dementia
• weakness, numbness of lower extremities
• muscle function/feeling loss
• muscle contractions
• muscle atrophy
• movement, uncoordinated

Note: There may be no symptoms (in the asymptomatic form)

Signs and tests:

Tests to detect syphilis include:

• a VDRL
• a CSF VDRL test

Tests to evaluate the nervous system may include:

• an examination of cranial nerves
• lumbar puncture and a CSF fluid analysis.
• a cranial CT scan
• MRI scan of the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord
• a cerebral angiogram