Pinta (disease)
| Pinta (disease) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| a) Erythematous plaque- early pinta b) hyperpigmented skin lesion - late pinta | |
 | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Diagnostic method | Appearance[1] |
Pinta (also known as pure-puru) is a human skin disease caused by infection with the spirochete Treponema carateum, which is morphologically and serologically indistinguishable from the bacterium that causes syphilis.[1][2]
The disease is endemic to Mexico, Central America, and South America.[1]
Signs and symptoms
Pinta, the least severe of treponemal infections being limited to the skin, is thought to be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact (similar to bejel and yaws), and after an incubation period of two to three weeks, produces a raised papule, which enlarges and becomes hyperkeratotic (scaly/flaky). Lesions are usually present in the exposed surface of arms and legs. Local lymph nodes might be enlarged. Three to nine months later, further thickened and flat lesions (pintids) appear all over the body. These generally resolve, but a proportion of people with pinta will go on to develop late-stage disease, characterised by widespread pigmentary change with a mixture of hyperpigmentation and depigmentation that can be disfiguring.[3]
Cause
Pinta is caused by the bacterium Treponema carateum. It is related to the more well-known T. pallidum, which can cause endemic syphilis.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually clinical, but as with yaws and bejel, serological tests for syphilis, such as rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and TPHA, will be positive, and the spirochetes can be seen on dark field microscopy of samples taken from the early papules.[citation needed]
Treatment
The disease can be treated with penicillin, tetracycline (not to be used in pregnant women), azithromycin or chloramphenicol, and can be prevented through contact tracing by public health officials. A single intramuscular injection of long-acting penicillin is effective against endemic treponematoses including pinta, yaws, and bejel.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Greenstein, Emily (2025). "Tropical diseases wounds". In Howell, Melania; RN, Tuba Şengül; Kirkland-Kyhn, Holly (eds.). Advances in Wound Care and Wound Management, An Issue of Nursing Clinics: Advances in Wound Care and Wound Management, An Issue of Nursing Clinics. Philadelphia: Elsevier. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-443-29599-7.
- ↑ "Pinta". Medscape. WebMD. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2012. Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Torok, E (2009). Oxford Handbook of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (first ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 388. ISBN 978-0-19-856925-1.
- ↑ Fine, Steven. "Treponematosis (Endemic Syphilis) Medication". Medscape. WebMD. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2014. Archived 12 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
External links
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