ABSTRACT
Syphilis is a systemic disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. The name of this ancient but pervasive infection is proverbial to health care providers. The worldwide recognition of this term, however, argues with the intricacy of the disease in addition to the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges that persistently affect the global control of syphilis up to the present. This article focuses on the varied presentations of the infection, earning the title the "great imitator." The article also tackles other significant concerns regarding this malady.
Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Patient Care Planning/organization & administration , Primary Prevention/methods , Syphilis/diagnosis , Syphilis/therapy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Sex Education/organization & administration , Sex Work , Sexual Partners , Syphilis/prevention & control , Syphilis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Syphilis, Cutaneous/therapy , Syphilis, Latent/diagnosis , Syphilis, Latent/therapy , Treponema pallidum/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is common in Asia. Its prevalence is estimated to be 1-5% in adults. However, larger population-based studies into the epidemiology of SD in Asia are lacking, and the aetiology of SD may differ widely from Western countries and in different parts of Asia. In addition, clinically significant differences between Asian and Caucasian skin have been reported. There is a need to define standardized clinical diagnostic criteria and/or a grading system to help determine appropriate treatments for SD within Asia. With this in mind, experts from India, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Italy convened to define the landscape of SD in Asia at a meeting held in Singapore. The consensus group developed a comprehensive algorithm to aid clinicians to recommend appropriate treatment of SD in both adults and children. In most cases, satisfactory therapeutic results can be accomplished with topical antifungal agents or topical corticosteroids. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents with antifungal properties have been shown to be a viable option for both acute and maintenance therapy.