What therapy should be anticipated for a client admitted for general paresis due to syphilis?

Penicillin therapy is the recommended treatment for a client diagnosed with general paresis due to syphilis. General paresis, or general paresis of the insane (GPI), is a serious neurological condition that results from untreated syphilis affecting the central nervous system. Penicillin G is the most effective medication for syphilis, as it targets the Treponema pallidum bacteria that cause the infection. In cases of neurosyphilis, which includes general paresis, the treatment involves intravenous penicillin to ensure adequate concentrations in the central nervous system.

Other therapies, such as azithromycin and doxycycline, are alternatives for treating syphilis in various stages but are not the first-line treatments for advanced neurological involvement. Cephalexin is an antibiotic used primarily for bacterial infections but is not effective against the treponemic pathogen and is unsuitable for treating syphilis. Therefore, penicillin remains the cornerstone of treatment for syphilis and its neurological complications.