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pinta
Epidemiology:
- endemic non-venereal spirochete infection with Treponema pallidum subspecies carateum
- occurs among the natives of Mexico, Central America, & South America
- not very contagious
- transmission probably requires contact with broken skin
Clinical manifestations:
- lesions are confined to the dermis
- lesions begin at the inoculation site as a small papule that enlarges & becomes hyperkeratotic
- lesions develop mainly on the extremities, face, & neck
- after 3 to 9 mo, further thickened & flat lesions (pintids) appear all over the body & over bony prominences
- later, some lesions become slate blue or depigmented, resembling vitiligo
Laboratory:
- see syphilis
- morphologically & serologically indistinguishable from the agent of syphilis Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
Management:
- penicillin
General
syphilis
References
- Cunha BA
Bejel, Pinta, and Yaws
Merck Manual
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec14/ch174/ch174b.html