infectious diseases
Bejel, Pinta, and Yaws
Key Points
TheTreponemaspecies that cause bejel, pinta, and yaws are morphologically and serologically indistinguishable from the agent of syphilis,T. pallidumsubspeciespallidum. Disease is spread by close body contact, typically between children living in conditions of poor hygiene. As in syphilis, the typical course is an initial mucocutaneous lesion, followed by diffuse secondary lesions, a latent period, and late destructive disease. Serologic tests for syphilis (including fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption tests) are positive; thus, differentiation from venereal syphilis is clinical. Give one dose ofazithromycin30 mg/kg orally (maximum 2 g), one dose of penicillin benzathine IM (dose dependent on age), or 2 weeks ofdoxycycline100 mg orally twice a day. Treat close contacts with antibiotics. 