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Help required regarding syphilis
On 30 january,2019 I made biggest mistake and had sex with a sex worker, thereafter, from the very next day I had burning sensation at penis and increased urination. On 11th day I went to a doctor who suspected a fungal infection, also asked me to get tested with rpr(vdrl), HIV, urine culture & sensitivity and gave me some antifungal cream and fluconozole tabs plus martifur and doxicycline 100. The tests came back negative. He asked me to repeat tests after one month, meanwhile I was taking the antibiotics as advised by doctor. I got tested again with rpr(vdrl) , HIV and urine tests. All resulted as negative. But during that time I had some red spots on penis, a boil kinda rash on thigh and other rashes too. I googled things and found in some articles (though not particularly for syphilis) that too early antibiotics use may stop antibody production. And vdrl and tpha looks for antibodies. I have also done tpha thrice after that which came back negative.
Now, My question is - can too early antibiotic use (such as martifur and doxy100), stop antibody production for syphilis?
Plz help I am worried as I still do have some rashes but may be they are normal skin probs.
Now, My question is - can too early antibiotic use (such as martifur and doxy100), stop antibody production for syphilis?
Plz help I am worried as I still do have some rashes but may be they are normal skin probs.
At this point, your question has been answered fully by our volunteer members regarding syphilis. We wish you the best.
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Yes, antibiotics could cause a false negative on your RPR, VDRL or TPHA (those are all different tests, by the way), but it depends on the timing of them. If you had been off antibiotics for a few weeks for any of these tests, they are accurate.
If you weren't, all you need to do is get another test now to see if you have it. The antibiotics may have also prevented an infection, but you'll need to test to find out.
If you weren't, all you need to do is get another test now to see if you have it. The antibiotics may have also prevented an infection, but you'll need to test to find out.
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I have got tested recently in Feb 2020 after one year of that incident. The results are negative in rpr as well as tpha. But my concern is-
1. Is it possible that I have syphilis but my body is not producing antibodies due to that too early antibiotic usage?
2. Can too early use of antibiotics stop antibody production for syphilis for forever?
3. If I get tested again can I rely on tests now? Despite too early use of antibiotics
1. Is it possible that I have syphilis but my body is not producing antibodies due to that too early antibiotic usage?
2. Can too early use of antibiotics stop antibody production for syphilis for forever?
3. If I get tested again can I rely on tests now? Despite too early use of antibiotics
1 - No, by now, your body would have been producing antibodies.
2 - No.
3 - You don't need to test again if you tested a year after the incident and you weren't on antibiotics at the time.
You're negative for syphilis, and you can trust that.
2 - No.
3 - You don't need to test again if you tested a year after the incident and you weren't on antibiotics at the time.
You're negative for syphilis, and you can trust that.
Thank you for sparing time for my help
One last question should I ask these questions to a doctor or will he discard me as paranoid. Assuming you are not a doctor, plz help
I am not a doctor, but have worked in the field for a long time.
You can ask your doctor about this. I don't think it's necessary to run out and expose yourself to covid19 when your recent test is conclusive, but maybe you can call your doctor and ask the questions.
Why can't you let this go? What's your fear?
You can ask your doctor about this. I don't think it's necessary to run out and expose yourself to covid19 when your recent test is conclusive, but maybe you can call your doctor and ask the questions.
Why can't you let this go? What's your fear?
I am just afraid of syphilis, and any kinda rash makes me paranoid now. I know it sounds silly. I LL only ask doctor after passing of this covid -19 phase. But what can I do about my fear, ty again for ur help
Is anxiety normal for you?
Science says you don't have syphilis. We have about 500 years worth of syphilis history, and we know how it works. It's also pretty uncommon, so chances are that you never contracted it.
If you did, the doxy may have cured/prevented it.
I don't have any magic words to help you with anxiety. Just try to trust the science.
Science says you don't have syphilis. We have about 500 years worth of syphilis history, and we know how it works. It's also pretty uncommon, so chances are that you never contracted it.
If you did, the doxy may have cured/prevented it.
I don't have any magic words to help you with anxiety. Just try to trust the science.
ty , God bless you. I guess it's Google which is scaring me, also as I am from India I consulted some doctor's online on practo who told me that antibodies have nothing to do with antibiotics whereas Google articles pointed otherwise. This made me curious about the fact and raised question whether the too early use of antibiotics has stopped antibody production in my body and now I am afraid that I have syphilis and my body isn't producing antibodies due to early usage of antibiotics and the tests are false negative. I guess I should have taken up biology in my school. And just for my sake just tell me once more i.e. last time..
1. is it possible that I have syphilis and my body is not producing antibodies due to too early usage of antibiotics?
Your answer calms me , ty, God bless you again
1. is it possible that I have syphilis and my body is not producing antibodies due to too early usage of antibiotics?
Your answer calms me , ty, God bless you again
No, it's not possible. It's not possible at all.
Whatever happens in the beginning with antibiotics doesn't matter now. If you had syphilis, you'd have tested positive in February. You did not.
You're fine.
Whatever happens in the beginning with antibiotics doesn't matter now. If you had syphilis, you'd have tested positive in February. You did not.
You're fine.
Ty God bless you with everything you want , by the way if you aren't a doc, how do you know so much, it's impressive, but I have no knowledge of medical field, ty again
I've worked in the STD field for a long time, have some education and training in it, too. :)
I'm glad you found it helpful. Take care and stay safe and stay home!
I'm glad you found it helpful. Take care and stay safe and stay home!
Ty, you truly helped, and let me guess , you are a nurse then, right !, btw great profession, helping others earning blessings while earning a living, ty agn
Nope, not a nurse. I did a lot of health education and disease tracking, among other things.
I try not to get too personal here for my safety. I'm sure you understand.
But yes, nurses are awesome, and they are doing great things, especially now.
I try not to get too personal here for my safety. I'm sure you understand.
But yes, nurses are awesome, and they are doing great things, especially now.
I get it, thank you, hey please don't get offended as you can see I am prone to alot of anxiety and it is my anxiety which is making me ask this, I just wanted to know that I can trust your answers, which I do but my anxiety keeps knocking in my head, sorry, I just wanted to know what exactly you do/did in medical field, so as to keep my anxiety down especially during this lockdown phase. Please ignore my idiotic behavior. I am truly thankful for your help. I hope you can understand what anxiety feels like.
I understand your anxiety, and that you want to know if you can trust our answers. You absolutely should always question the sources of your information - that's smart.
No one here is a doctor. All of us on this site are answering because we either have experience in the field, experience personally, both, or just an interest in it. In this STD forum, we take all of our information from the CDC, NHS, other agencies, experts in the field, or a combination of those. We are science-based, and can back up every thing we say.
Don't feel badly for questioning our qualifications. You should. No offense taken at all. :)
No one here is a doctor. All of us on this site are answering because we either have experience in the field, experience personally, both, or just an interest in it. In this STD forum, we take all of our information from the CDC, NHS, other agencies, experts in the field, or a combination of those. We are science-based, and can back up every thing we say.
Don't feel badly for questioning our qualifications. You should. No offense taken at all. :)
Thanks for understanding me, so do you mean I can trust you and this platform
I'd say yes, but I also say you always need to do your research. When you do that, though, check all your sources. Make sure it's a reputable site that backs up their info with actual sources, or can when asked.
You are a ray of hope for me now. But dear that is where my problem started, I never got exact answer to my query on Google. All it did was, it raised my anxiety many folds, however I found in some protocol for syphilis treatment that early antibiotic use should be avoided as it may affect seology ( I didn't actually get it). Further, in some studies related to other diseases it was mentioned that subjects who were given too early antibiotic never developed antibodies. These studies combined with any kinda rash/pimple I develop, makes me nervous, and my concern as you already know is that:
I feel that I have syphilis and due to that too early use of antibiotics (ie before development of antibodies), my body is not developing antibodies till now and the tests are false negative. What should I do.
I feel that I have syphilis and due to that too early use of antibiotics (ie before development of antibodies), my body is not developing antibodies till now and the tests are false negative. What should I do.
You don't have syphilis. Even people who treat early still can develop antibodies. You had 11 days to develop antibodies, and then an entire year after.
When they say that antibiotics may affect serology, it's temporary, not permanent.
When they say that antibiotics may affect serology, it's temporary, not permanent.
Thanks for helping, keep helping people like me, God bless you
I know this may annoy you, but, I have no one to ask this at present, when you say that early antibiotics temporarily can affect antibody production, what is the mechanism behind it? Sorry to keep disturbing you. I am truly sorry
You definitely seem anxious and it can keep our brain the same loop over and over. You seem to be stuck in the loop. Looks like auntiejessie has answered that your question at this point is irrelevant to your situation. I would do your best to get out of the anxiety loop.
I guess you r right, I am anxious alot, and the research article available on Google and any kinda rash I have, makes me more anxious, and now I want to know the entire mechanism of antibiotics and how it affects antibody production and immune response. I don't know how to stop thinking about syphilis
Early antibiotics would slow the bacteria growth, and therefore slow antibody development. If the antibiotics didn't cure you, the bacteria would grow, and antibodies would develop once you stop taking the antibiotics.
You don't have syphilis.
If you can't let this go, it's time to seek some counseling for this. I have no other way to explain it, and I'm not a counselor. This forum is for STDs.
We have an Anxiety forum, but they can not address your syphilis questions. They can only help you cope with anxiety - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Anxiety/show/71
Really, though, a personal mental health counselor would be best for you.
You don't have syphilis.
If you can't let this go, it's time to seek some counseling for this. I have no other way to explain it, and I'm not a counselor. This forum is for STDs.
We have an Anxiety forum, but they can not address your syphilis questions. They can only help you cope with anxiety - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Anxiety/show/71
Really, though, a personal mental health counselor would be best for you.
I consulted some doctor's online on practo , non of them gave me a definitive answer, one doctor even told me to get personally examined and it's hard to tell anything online. What should I do now...worried as hell, also got red spots all over my feet and legs, which makes me more anxious.. guide me plz
Auntiejessi thanks for your help full nature, I wish Earth was filled with people like u, it would be heaven then, I am not filling anxious now, it's more like being curious, I consulted doctor's online as I told you above but non of them gave any definitive answer, I am putting my faith on your responses and I'll try to move ahead now, thanks and always be like this.
You need to see a doctor if you are having symptoms. No one can diagnose you online.
You don't have syphilis, but you do need to see a doctor. I'm not sure what's causing such anxiety about this, but go see a doctor.
You don't have syphilis, but you do need to see a doctor. I'm not sure what's causing such anxiety about this, but go see a doctor.
Ok I'll do the same
I went to see a internal medicine doctor in my town, he was too nice, he told me that nothing can stop antibodies production for forever, however, I couldn't show him my feet rashes as the light in doctor's room was dim (probably due to some grid fault) and rashes weren't visible, instead I showed him pictures of these rashes and he said don't worry about these, I asked if I need to take any medicine for these rashes to which he said no... Feeling peaceful for the moment however waiting for this covid situation to end and thereafter, I'll go to see a famous general physician in Delhi. Thanks auntiejessi, for your help.
You're welcome. I'm glad to hear you went to the doctor. I hope you find peace on this.
Just when I was about to find peace, I have a small rash ie a red spot on my sole along with more rashes on my feet, no itch no pain, I'll wait for a few days, if it doesn't go, I'll again visit my doc, I don't know what else to do. Is there a way I can share pictures here
You can post it on a site like imgur, and link it here.
This isn't syphilis. You are negative for syphilis. Go get it checked now. If it goes away, you'll always wonder what it was.
This isn't syphilis. You are negative for syphilis. Go get it checked now. If it goes away, you'll always wonder what it was.
I am not able reach doctor at the moment due to lockdown in my town, however I have uploaded the pics of rashes mentioning time of appearance of such rashes on imgur. There are basically 3 different type of rashes:
1. On chest and shoulders blade, which are raised,
2. On feet which are flat and red,
3. On sole of foot which is more like a red spot under skin but smooth. Here is the link of imgur upload:
https://imgur.com/a/FBbS2WC
However it is my humble request that you zoom on them while looking, and plz plz tell me what are these.
Also can you please look at West of scotland Protocol for syphilis which at page 6 point 3 (primary syphilis diagnosis) provides that "..Avoid the use of antibiotics if possible at this stage if the diagnosis remains uncertain and the patient reports no exposure to syphilis. Treatment at this stage may prevent a serological response. Likewise if the patient is requiring antibiotics for another reason then this may affect syphilis serology.."
What does that mean plz plz tell me, thank you for all your help. God bless you.
1. On chest and shoulders blade, which are raised,
2. On feet which are flat and red,
3. On sole of foot which is more like a red spot under skin but smooth. Here is the link of imgur upload:
https://imgur.com/a/FBbS2WC
However it is my humble request that you zoom on them while looking, and plz plz tell me what are these.
Also can you please look at West of scotland Protocol for syphilis which at page 6 point 3 (primary syphilis diagnosis) provides that "..Avoid the use of antibiotics if possible at this stage if the diagnosis remains uncertain and the patient reports no exposure to syphilis. Treatment at this stage may prevent a serological response. Likewise if the patient is requiring antibiotics for another reason then this may affect syphilis serology.."
What does that mean plz plz tell me, thank you for all your help. God bless you.
There are total 6-7 pics plz zoom while looking and tell me what they are. Also plz look at the west of scotland protocol for syphilis (for the point mentioned in above comment) and plz tell me what does it mean. God bless you. Thank you
Have you googled pics of a syphilis rash? That is not what you have.
You also wouldn't be in a primary syphilis stage now, so those protcols don't apply to you. It also doesn't say that it permanently prevents a serological response.
I don't know what is causing your rash. I'm not a dermatologist. I know it's not a syphilis rash because you don't have syphilis. You have been told by doctors that the delay in antibody production isn't permanent. I have explained this to you.
This is a psychological issue now. I can't answer it any differently than I already have.
You also wouldn't be in a primary syphilis stage now, so those protcols don't apply to you. It also doesn't say that it permanently prevents a serological response.
I don't know what is causing your rash. I'm not a dermatologist. I know it's not a syphilis rash because you don't have syphilis. You have been told by doctors that the delay in antibody production isn't permanent. I have explained this to you.
This is a psychological issue now. I can't answer it any differently than I already have.
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