The Great Mimicker: Secondary Syphilis-Associated Nephrotic Syndrome in an Adolescent Patient.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is long regarded as the "great mimicker" for its variety of symptoms and clinical manifestations. Rarely, it can present with renal involvement, particularly nephrotic syndrome. This is an uncommon initial presentation, particularly in pediatrics. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 17-year-old male adolescent who presented to the emergency department with a chief symptom of abdominal pain. In addition, he was found to have a number of stigmata characteristic of both syphilis and nephrotic syndrome, including a rash and diffuse edema, particularly in the lower extremities. This led to the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome secondary to syphilis infection. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of syphilis resulted in resolution of both kidney injury and symptoms of the underlying infection. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case highlights the variety of manifestations of sexually transmitted infections, particularly in the pediatric population. It demonstrates how identifying syphilis as the inciting event led to the correct treatment management for the patient. This presentation serves to teach and remind emergency physicians of the wide-ranging presentations for sexually transmitted infections, particularly syphilis, and the necessity of obtaining a sexual history even in adolescent patients.

Cranium-Penetrating Mass Detected by Ultrasound Expedited Management of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

A 6-year-old boy presented to the pediatric emergency department with a unilateral 5 × 3-cm superficial mass on the postauricular region growing for 1 month. Point-of-care ultrasound was used to evaluate the mass, which revealed a complex cystic mass penetrating the temporal bone. After confirmatory magnetic resonance imaging, the patient was transferred for neurosurgical evaluation, and the tumor was excised. Pathology revealed Langerhans cell histiocytosis.