Acquired secondary syphilis with only symptom of Moth-eaten alopecia

A case report of acquired secondary syphilis with the only cutaneous symptom of Moth-eaten alopecia was presented by Dr.Y. Luo and associates which was published in British Journal of Dermatology.The rare case describes the history of a 2-year-old boy who presented with a 3-month history of ‘moth-eaten’ alopecia on the scalp.

A 2-year-old boy presented with a 3-month history of ‘moth-eaten’ alopecia on the scalp (a, b). Serological tests showed rapid plasma reagin (RPR; titre 1: 32) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) positivity. His parents tested negative for syphilis, but his grandmother demonstrated RPR (1: 32) and TPPA positivity. His grandmother would chew food in daily meals before feeding it to him, which often happens among people from rural areas or who are poorly educated in China. The boy was diagnosed with acquired syphilis. This is a rare case transmitted via premasticated food; the only symptom was moth-eaten alopecia.

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.15957/full