Syphilitic aseptic meningitis

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Central nervous system

Syphilitic aseptic meningitis is a complication of untreated syphilis that involves inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. The condition is marked by changes in mental status and problems with nerve function.

Meningitis - syphilitic

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

The disorder resembles meningitis caused by other conditions. There is inflammation of the meninges (the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord). This may cause headaches, cognitive 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.

Risks of syphilitic aseptic meningitis include previous infection with syphilis or 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 person, but they may sometimes be transmitted by nonsexual contact.

Review Date: 08/08/2006
Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.