Syphilitic aseptic meningitis

Alternative names:

meningitis - syphilitic

Definition:

A disorder characterized by changes in mental status and nerve functions that may occur in untreated syphilis infections.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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

The disorder resembles meningitis from other causes. There is inflammation of the meninges (the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord). This may cause headaches, psychologic changes, or decrease in nerve functions such as vision, movement, or sensation. Vascular (blood vessel) symptoms, such as stroke secondary to syphilis, commonly accompany or follow syphilitic aseptic meningitis.

Syphilitic aseptic meningitis affects approximately 2 out of one million people. Risks include previous syphilis infection, or previous infection with other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea (which may hide symptoms of syphilis infection). Syphilis infections are transmitted primarily through sexual contact with an infected lesion but may be transmitted by nonsexual contact.