neurosyphilis
Noun: A form of the infectious disease syphilis that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). It is a tertiary (late-stage) complication that can occur years after the initial, untreated infection.
This is a medical term used specifically to describe a neurological complication of syphilis. * The patient's psychiatric symptoms and difficulty walking were attributed to neurosyphilis. * Neurosyphilis can present with a wide range of symptoms, including dementia, paralysis, and sensory deficits. * A diagnosis of neurosyphilis requires examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via a lumbar puncture.
- General paresis (or paretic neurosyphilis): A form of neurosyphilis characterized by progressive dementia and personality changes.
- Tubes dorsalis (or tabetic neurosyphilis): A form of neurosyphilis affecting the spinal cord, leading to severe leg pain, poor coordination, and bladder dysfunction.
- Syphilis (noun): The initial sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by .
- Meningovascular syphilis (noun): A form of neurosyphilis involving inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and their blood vessels.
- Syphilis of the central nervous system (This is the descriptive synonym used in the reference definition.)
This term refers exclusively to the neurological manifestation of a specific bacterial infection. It is not a general term for any brain disease or infection.
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syphilis of the central nervous system