| Definition: | General paresis is a disorder characterized primarily by impaired mental function caused by damage to the brain from untreated syphilis. It is now extremely uncommon.
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: | General paresis is one form of neurosyphilis, which is a manifestation of a late, untreated syphilis infection. It is a progressive, life-threatening complication.
The infection causes widespread damage to the nerves of the brain. This damage results in personality changes, mood changes, hyperactive reflexes, pain ("lightning pains," brief sharp pains in all parts that are characteristic of tabes dorsalis), eye changes with abnormal pupil response, abnormal mental function including hallucinations and delusions, decreased intellectual functioning (memory, calculating, judgment, insight), and speech changes.
General paresis typically begins about 15-20 years after the original syphills infection. The risks include previous syphilis infection and previous infection with other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea (which may hide symptoms of syphilis infection). Syphilis infections are transmitted primarily through sexual contact with an infected lesion, but may also occasionally be transmitted by non-sexual contact.
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Review Date: 5/10/2002
Reviewed By: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., MSc, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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