[Curable dementia revealing late congenital syphilis]

Late congenital syphilis is a rare disease and its neurological expression is exceptional. We report a case revealed by a curable dementia.

This 17-year-old patient presented for one year progressive dementia, frontal syndrome and extra pyramidal syndrome. The cerebral CT scan showed a diffuse cortical and subcortical atrophy. Blood and CSF positive antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of late congenital meningoencephalitis due to syphilis. The outcome after 13 months follow-up was favourable with penicillin therapy.

Late congenital syphilis is a rare disease, that may be exceptionally revealed by a curable dementia. Evolution may be favourable with early penicillin therapy.