Syphilis in a massage room

[med4500]

Hi. I have a developed a single sore not on but around my penis. Is it possible to get syphilis from secretions of the syphilis sore of the last person on the massage bed? I was completely naked and assuming the last person was also.

Thank u

[Sillymistake87]

Hi there,

No, this is not a risk for transmission of syphilis.

[med4500]

So syphilis is only through direct contact and  no other way at all?

[auntiejessi]

Yes, you need to have direct, skin to skin contact with a syphilis sore to get it.

[auntiejessi]

Also - get the sore checked out. It could be something else that needs attention.

[med4500]

Could this be a chancroid sore? Is it possible to get chancroid this way?

[auntiejessi]

No, but it could be an infected hair follicle, or a fungal infection, or a staph infection - something along those lines.

[med4500]

Could I just know how chancroid is spread. I read a couple of places it can be spread by sharing towels. I also read it's possible to spread it by touching the sore and then touching another person. Please help there isn't that much information on it I think.

[auntiejessi]

Chancroids are painful. They can be very painful - does yours hurt?

You get chancroid by contact with a sore, or contact with the pus of a sore. I can find nothing that supports chancroid being spread by linens - towels, sheets, etc.

There isn't a lot of info on it because it's not common anymore. It's rare in most places except in Africa and the Caribbean. Are you in or have you recently been to either of those places?

https://www.healthline.com/health/chancroid

Just go to the doctor and get it checked. You can guess and wonder and research, but a doctor can tell you what it is.