Neurosyphilis in a young Indian expatriate

Abstract

Neurosyphilis is the infection of the central nervous system with treponema pallidum species, and true to its reputation as the old mimic, can present with a multitude of clinical scenarios, one of which is stroke in the young. Rare in developed countries, except for an at-risk population of drug abusers and HIV infected patients; it is still common in the rest of the world. We describe the case of a young Indian male, his presentation, diagnosis and treatment, and remarkable recovery on aqueous penicillin G therapy following his presentation with a stroke.