American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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What are the common additional symptoms that might accompany secondary syphilis?

Headaches and vision changes
Fever, malaise, and generalized lymphadenopathy
Joint pain and fatigue
Skin pigmentation changes

The correct answer is: Fever, malaise, and generalized lymphadenopathy

In secondary syphilis, common additional symptoms often include fever, malaise, and generalized lymphadenopathy. This stage of syphilis is characterized by systemic involvement and is marked by a wide range of symptoms as the Treponema pallidum bacteria disseminate throughout the body. Fever is a systemic response indicating infection, malaise refers to a general feeling of discomfort or unease, and generalized lymphadenopathy signifies that lymph nodes throughout the body are enlarging, which is a common immune reaction to infection. These symptoms can occur alongside the characteristic rash seen in secondary syphilis, which may affect various body areas, including the trunk and extremities. While headaches and vision changes, joint pain and fatigue, and skin pigmentation changes can occur in different contexts, they are not the hallmark symptoms of secondary syphilis as compared to the systemic symptoms of fever, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Understanding these specific symptoms helps in recognizing and diagnosing secondary syphilis effectively.