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Suggest Medical Tests To Rule Out Syphilis
Question: Hello. I've always thought I could have contracted syphilis 20 years ago. I did have a lesion on my penis and some rashes. Since then I have always had anxiety and now depression, headaches, poor concentration. The doctors did a VDRL blood test, RPR blood test , FTA- Abs blood test, checked thyroid and an MRI of my brain and they said it's not syphilis. I have read that these tests need to be done on spinal fluid on someone with neurosyphilis. I am very concerned. Do I need the CSF/ spinal fluid tests done??
Brief Answer:
Please note that the tests results show that you DO NOT have syphilis.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back to HCM: Please note that you have had the correct initial testing and confirmatory testing needed for syphilis. Neurosyphilis comes after syphilis that would show positivity in your blood anyway, so it is highly unlikely that you contracted just Neurosyphilis. Neurosyphilis is a complication of general syphilis and is a progression of un treated general "body' syphilis. And remember, if your CSF is negative for syphilis, it does not mean that you do not have syphilis. The best way is to have lesions placed under a dark field microscope and view the corkscrew spirochetes/bugs to 100% say that one is positive. Fact is, the FTA-Abs should remain positive even after successful treatment, so for you, this should be positive if you have syphilis. Remember though, false positives can be brought on by infections like Lyme disease and some Rheumatologic diseases, so all this needs to be tested under the correct clinical suspicion and context. I hope this helps you out and places you more at ease. Good luck
Please note that the tests results show that you DO NOT have syphilis.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back to HCM: Please note that you have had the correct initial testing and confirmatory testing needed for syphilis. Neurosyphilis comes after syphilis that would show positivity in your blood anyway, so it is highly unlikely that you contracted just Neurosyphilis. Neurosyphilis is a complication of general syphilis and is a progression of un treated general "body' syphilis. And remember, if your CSF is negative for syphilis, it does not mean that you do not have syphilis. The best way is to have lesions placed under a dark field microscope and view the corkscrew spirochetes/bugs to 100% say that one is positive. Fact is, the FTA-Abs should remain positive even after successful treatment, so for you, this should be positive if you have syphilis. Remember though, false positives can be brought on by infections like Lyme disease and some Rheumatologic diseases, so all this needs to be tested under the correct clinical suspicion and context. I hope this helps you out and places you more at ease. Good luck
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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