How to check for syphilis-induced gastric crisis?

  One of the manifestations of syphilis, spinal consumption, causes a variety of visceral crises, with gastric crises being the most common. Syphilis of the stomach (syphilis of stomach) is a rare gastric disease due to the invasion of the stomach lining by syphilis spirochetes.  Symptoms develop slowly, but progressively worsen, and become apparent with the reduction of gastric volume and concurrent ulcers. It begins mostly as pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen after meals. It is accompanied by epigastric distention, nausea, vomiting and wasting and weakness. The abdominal pain and vomiting are aggravated by gastric scar formation and obstruction of pyloric passage. Some patients have symptoms similar to peptic ulcer. In a few cases, a mass may be palpable on physical examination of the abdomen.  The diagnosis of gastric syphilis is difficult because there are no specific symptoms, but the diagnosis can be confirmed based on the history of previous diseases, history of initial syphilis chancre and gastric X-ray and serum antigen reaction. Gastroscopic findings and biopsy are consistent with the pathological changes of syphilis, which can confirm the diagnosis. After anti-syphilis treatment, barium meal X-ray of the stomach showing improvement or disappearance of the lesion is also helpful for diagnosis.