[Latent and manifest acquired syphilis--clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy]

The annual reported incidence of new syphilis infections in the FRG is decreasing; cases with atypical or oligosymptomatic forms of syphilis, however, show a relative increase. In contrast to the primary or secondary stage, the late stages of syphilis are very rare. Of great diagnostic importance is the serological examination which today can be limited to the VDRL and TPHA tests for screening and the FTA-ABS test for confirmation. In cases with an atypical clinical picture or history, the necessity for treatment can be verified with the 19S-IgM-FTA-ABS test and demonstration of treponemal IgM antibodies. Penicillin is still the drug of choice for the treatment of syphilis. In patients who are allergic to penicillin, the administration of erythromycin, tetracycline and, recently, of cephalosporins can be considered.