Syphilis - 1 year later?

[Waldon]

Hi guys, I'm having some doubts and I hope someone can help me out with this since I don't have a GP yet...

A year ago I was diagnosed with syphilis for which I got two shots of penicilin on my butt. The clinic's sex advisor told me it wouldn't cure me of syphilis since there is no cure, and it would always show on my tests. The penicilin was just to help my body fight off the symptoms.

As I moved away from the area I am no longer in contact with that clinic and I was left wondering whatever else would/could happen or if syphilis would just stay there stored in some forgotten corner of my body. This was all fine, except since two days ago I've been feeling very drowsy and tired and my skin was somewhat itchy in places although I have no marks whatsoever. Today, instead of the mild itchiness here and there I've got a small burning sensation in said areas of my skin. Still, I can't see any marks.
Is it possible that my syphilis is manifesting itself again and that I need treatment once more?

Please help me out on this one so I can clear my head before I get to get some tests done and let me know if I got any of it wrong...

 

[cityboy-stl]

I think you should do some Google searches and some reading. It is not true that syphilis cannot be cured. I'm sure one of the more medical people around here will give you more specific information but if you were properly treated you should be cured. Whether it may still show up on blood tests at a later time, I don't know.

 

[KaraBulut]

There does seem to be come confusion about what happened at the clinic and what you were told.

Syphilis is usually resolved with a single large dose of penicillin. It's possible to be reinfected by a later exposure to someone who has syphilis- there's no lifetime immunity but in most cases persons with an early syphilis infection are resolved quickly with penicillin. There's several tests for syphilis but the most common screening test (the RPR) will return a negative result once the infection is cured.

Is it possible that there was something else that you were treated for- i.e. something other than syphilis?

 

[bankside]

There does seem to be come confusion about what happened at the clinic and what you were told.

Syphilis is usually resolved with a single large dose of penicillin. It's possible to be reinfected by a later exposure to someone who has syphilis- there's no lifetime immunity but in most cases persons with an early syphilis infection are resolved quickly with penicillin. There's several tests for syphilis but the most common screening test (the RPR) will return a negative result once the infection is cured.

Is it possible that there was something else that you were treated for- i.e. something other than syphilis?

Kara, would the test continue to show a positive result even after the initial infection is cured? (does the test measure antibodies?)

 

[Waldon]

I think you should do some Google searches and some reading. It is not true that syphilis cannot be cured. I'm sure one of the more medical people around here will give you more specific information but if you were properly treated you should be cured. Whether it may still show up on blood tests at a later time, I don't know.

I did run some Google searches but they were either confusing or not very informative... Although I gathered now syphilis goes away after the penicillin...

There does seem to be come confusion about what happened at the clinic and what you were told.

Syphilis is usually resolved with a single large dose of penicillin. It's possible to be reinfected by a later exposure to someone who has syphilis- there's no lifetime immunity but in most cases persons with an early syphilis infection are resolved quickly with penicillin. There's several tests for syphilis but the most common screening test (the RPR) will return a negative result once the infection is cured.

Is it possible that there was something else that you were treated for- i.e. something other than syphilis?

I think she might've mean that I would become immune to it but her wording was a tad confusing and I was left under the impression I was going to have syphilis forever! I wasn't informed of any other treatment or any other disease for that matter. All I got was the penicillin shots. Do you think the symptons I have now may be a new surge?

Kara, would the test continue to show a positive result even after the initial infection is cured? (does the test measure antibodies?)

I was told that it would. She told me to say the next time I'm tested that I tested positive for syphilis before but got treatment but that the new test would still come up with syphilis. But it it goes away after the penicillin then how is it traceable again in a new blood test?

 

[KaraBulut]

Kara, would the test continue to show a positive result even after the initial infection is cured? (does the test measure antibodies?)

The patient would have antibodies to T. pallidum but a negative RPR.

RPR and VDRL are screening tests. These tests don't actually test for syphilis- they look for substances that are produced by the infected human cells. So, once the infection is gone, the test returns to a non-reactive ("negative") state. In some cases where there is an established infection, the RPR or VDRL is used to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

Tests for antibodies (EIA, FTA-ABS) show prior exposure to syphilis. So, once they are positive, they will remain positive for life. These are often called treponema-specific tests because they are specifically looking for evidence of syphilis infection. These tests are more expensive, so they are usually done after a RPR or VDRL is positive.

Something that tends to be confusing- for HIV, HIV-EIA (or ELISA) is the first screening test. For syphilis, the TP-EIA would be the confirmation (second) test.

 

[heightsboi]

Sometimes the test does not become completely negative. However it should go down significantly, and it should stay down. However you can be reinfected with syphilis from another partner(or the same untreated partner). Your test would either go from negative to positive again or go from low levels of positive to high levels of positive.

It may be best to be retested at the same place if they keep records that are not anonymous. The old test result is important as a comparison point for any new tests.

 

[Waldon]

The patient would have antibodies to T. pallidum but a negative RPR.

Tests for antibodies (EIA, FTA-ABS) show prior exposure to syphilis. So, once they are positive, they will remain positive for life.

Ah I see then... Does that affect my system in anyway or it's just something that's there forever and doesn't affect me in any way?

 

[Waldon]

Sometimes the test does not become completely negative. However it should go down significantly, and it should stay down. However you can be reinfected with syphilis from another partner(or the same untreated partner). Your test would either go from negative to positive again or go from low levels of positive to high levels of positive.

It may be best to be retested at the same place if they keep records that are not anonymous. The old test result is important as a comparison point for any new tests.

I see, it's getting clear now. Sounded all a bit more dramatic before. I'm not sure if I can still use that clinic as I'm not living in the area anymore and the UK health system has it's area rules and the what not but I should go there for at least information on that...

 

[KaraBulut]

Ah I see then... Does that affect my system in anyway or it's just something that's there forever and doesn't affect me in any way?

No, like any of these tests that are looking for antibodies, they indicate exposure but aren't an indicator of active infection. To determine whether you have an active infection, you would need to test for presence of the bacteria, virus or a substance that is produced during the infection (syphilis is an example of a bacterial infection).

Because of the confusion, you may want to request a copy of your treatment record.

 

[studyjock999]

the sex advisor you spoke to has no clue what they're talking about
syphilis is a bacterial infection and is completely cured by penicillin injection

the marker will remain in your blood and signify you had syphilis in the past (the RPR)
the specific test for syphilis however (FTAbs) will be positive only if you have an active infection

once you get penicillin, it should cure it; anyone that tells you syphilis is for life has no idea what they're saying

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

When I had syphilis earlier this year, the lady told me bits and pieces of the bacterium would remain in my body, but maybe she just meant the antibodies?

 

[studyjock999]

the antibodies stay for life; that just means you had the infection in the past. the actual bacteria are killed with penicillin