Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study

Introduction: Neurosyphilis is a rare complication of untreated syphilis with limited literature.We aimed to look for demographic characters and clinical presentation of patients admitted with the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study that included...

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Main Authors: Uma Giri, Laila Lama Tangbetani, Anupama karki, Jagat Jeevan Ghimire
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nepal Medical Association 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Nepal Medical Association
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Online Access:http://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/8981
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author Uma Giri
Laila Lama Tangbetani
Anupama karki
Jagat Jeevan Ghimire
author_facet Uma Giri
Laila Lama Tangbetani
Anupama karki
Jagat Jeevan Ghimire
author_sort Uma Giri
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Neurosyphilis is a rare complication of untreated syphilis with limited literature.We aimed to look for demographic characters and clinical presentation of patients admitted with the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study that included analysis of records of neurosyphilis patients admitted to the National Academy of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal, from May 2015 to April 2024. All patients diagnosed with neurosyphilis were included, while those with incomplete data were excluded. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were used to define and categorize neurosyphilis. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± standard deviation for normally distributed data or as median and interquartile range for skewed data. Categorical variables were described using numbers and percentages. Results: A total of 53 cases were included in the study, with 31 (58.49%) males. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range: 37–60 years). Decreased vision was ovserved in 30 (56.60%) patients, and redness of the eye in 11 (20.75%) and headache in 4 (7.55%). Eye signs were observed in 43 (81.13%) patients. Cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was positive in 11 (20.75%) cases. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, 11 (20.75%) patients had verified neurosyphilis, 34 (64.15%) had likely neurosyphilis, and 8 (15.09%) had possible neurosyphilis. Iintramuscular benzathine penicillin was administered in 26 (49.06%) patients. Conclusions: There were more male patient with Neurosyphilis in our population. Decreased vision was the most common presentation. Likely neurosyphilis was most common diagnosis among studied population.
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spelling doaj-art-6edec1cdc0d641eba0a1150a46c6b5b22025-08-20T03:52:56ZengNepal Medical AssociationJournal of Nepal Medical Association0028-27151815-672X2025-04-016328510.31729/jnma.8981Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational StudyUma Giri 0Laila Lama Tangbetani1 Anupama karki2Jagat Jeevan Ghimire31National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Mahaboudha, Kathmandu NepalNational Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Mahaboudha, Kathmandu NepalNational Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Mahaboudha, Kathmandu NepalKanti Childrens’ Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal Introduction: Neurosyphilis is a rare complication of untreated syphilis with limited literature.We aimed to look for demographic characters and clinical presentation of patients admitted with the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study that included analysis of records of neurosyphilis patients admitted to the National Academy of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal, from May 2015 to April 2024. All patients diagnosed with neurosyphilis were included, while those with incomplete data were excluded. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were used to define and categorize neurosyphilis. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± standard deviation for normally distributed data or as median and interquartile range for skewed data. Categorical variables were described using numbers and percentages. Results: A total of 53 cases were included in the study, with 31 (58.49%) males. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range: 37–60 years). Decreased vision was ovserved in 30 (56.60%) patients, and redness of the eye in 11 (20.75%) and headache in 4 (7.55%). Eye signs were observed in 43 (81.13%) patients. Cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was positive in 11 (20.75%) cases. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, 11 (20.75%) patients had verified neurosyphilis, 34 (64.15%) had likely neurosyphilis, and 8 (15.09%) had possible neurosyphilis. Iintramuscular benzathine penicillin was administered in 26 (49.06%) patients. Conclusions: There were more male patient with Neurosyphilis in our population. Decreased vision was the most common presentation. Likely neurosyphilis was most common diagnosis among studied population. http://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/8981cerebrospinal fluidneurosyphilisprofiletreatment
spellingShingle Uma Giri
Laila Lama Tangbetani
Anupama karki
Jagat Jeevan Ghimire
Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
Journal of Nepal Medical Association
cerebrospinal fluid
neurosyphilis
profile
treatment
title Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
title_full Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
title_fullStr Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
title_full_unstemmed Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
title_short Profile of Neurosyphilis Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: An Observational Study
title_sort profile of neurosyphilis patients admitted to a tertiary care centre of nepal an observational study
topic cerebrospinal fluid
neurosyphilis
profile
treatment
url http://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/8981
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