Korean J Dermatol.  2003 Nov;41(11):1525-1529.

A Case of Secondary Syphilis Showing Clinical Features of Annular Pustular Psoriasis Following the Acupuncture and Venous Drainage in a Herb Clinic

• Kim JW
• Kim KJ
• Lee CJ

Abstract

Secondary syphilis has a myriad of clinical presentations as "the great imitator". However, syphilid mimicking annular pustular psoriasis has been rarely reported in the Korean literature. Although the incidence of syphilis has been declining in recent years, serologic testing for syphilis might be mandatory in all types of the unestablished psoriasiform dermatoses, in that failure to diagnose early syphilis correctly can have potentially serious legal ramifications. Though the risk of non-sexual transmission of syphilis has been extremely low, the probability of transmission following needle-stick injury or acupuncture can not be excluded. We herein report a rare case of secondary syphilis with clinical features of annular pustular psoriasis following the repeated acupuncture and venous drainage by a herb doctor.

Keyword

Secondary syphilis; Annular pustular psoriasis; Acupuncture; Venous drainage

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture*
Drainage*
Incidence
Needlestick Injuries
Psoriasis*
Serologic Tests
Skin Diseases
Syphilis*
Syphilis, Cutaneous