[Secondary syphilis with ocular manifestations and oral ulceration]

In this case-report we describe a patient who was first seen with a painless lesion of the chin. Despite treatment with antibiotics and steroids it didn't heal. Later on, painful ulcerations of the mouth, perianal itching lesions and a central skotoma appeared. In the hospital--course a syphilitic infection with multiple oral ulcerations and occular infestation was diagnosed. The lesion on the chin was interpreted as the primary chancre as a time--correlation of its appearance and the time of exposition could be documented. The epidemiology, the diagnostic measures are described. We outline the manifestations of syphilis and their change in our time and discuss therapeutic regimes.