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Can Syphilis Be Contracted Through Kissing?

Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2015

Question: Dr Doc,

A little under a month ago I open mouth kissed a prostitute, since then I have been getting some small sores on my tongue that have made me nervous about syphilis. They have all been in areas where inflamed taste buds occur. About three days ago I noticed one on the bottom of my tongue. Although it looks like a canker it does not hurt like one. What is it? I have attached a picture

Answered by Dr. Honey Arora (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Does not appear like Syphilis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi..
Welcome to HEALTHCARE MAGIC..

I have gone through your query and can understand your concerns...

As per your complain and presentation of symptoms it does not seems to be syphilis as although Primary Syphilis can occur within 10 to 90 days after exposure to the bacteria through sexual contact but the primary syphilis is mostly a single sore..
As you have the sores since the day you kissed it does not seems to be Syphilis as the sores must have occurred at least a week to 10 days later..
There can also be swollen lymph nodes, fatigue etc.

Note: I have not received any pictures attached.

It can be more probably be CANKER SORES and as they are not hurting you much there is a possibility they are not very much inflamed and it is not very uncommon..

You can take a multivitamin tablet daily for 15 days..
Do warm saline gargles..
Gargle with 1:1 solution of milk of magnesia and Benadryl liquid can help..

You can send me pictures of the sores and tell me if you have any other symptoms along so that I can advise you further..

Any more queries and questions are most welcome..

Hope this information helps..

Thanks and regards..
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Honey Arora (16 minutes later)

I have attached the photo. Although I have had some sores about five days after. This sore appeared three weeks after and it is on the only one on the back side of my tongue. All others seemed to start off as inflamed taste buds but this could not be

Answered by Dr. Honey Arora (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Seems to be a CANKER SORE..

Detailed Answer:
Hi..
Welcome Again..

Thanks for the image and reply..

As per your complain and presentation of symptoms and the clinical presentation of the ulcers from the image it does not seems like Syphilitic ulcer known as Chancre and the appearance is like a Canker Sore..

So both the onset of the sores as well as clinical appearance points towards Recurring Canker Sore or Recurring Apthous Ulcers..

So the treatment I explained can be taken for resolution of sores..

If you have any other questions you are most welcome..

Hope this information helps..

Thanks and regards.
Dr. Honey Nandwani Arora

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Honey Arora (15 minutes later)

Thank you for your response. All other sorrs in the last couple of weeks have been on top of the tongue with slightly different presentation. In judging this sore alone without the appearance of others would you judge this as a canker and definitely not a chancre?

Answered by Dr. Honey Arora (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Send images of the sores on tongue..

Detailed Answer:
Hi..
Welcome Again..

As per your query this sore does not seems like Syphilitic ulcer and to evaluate the other ulcers I need an image to look for the cause of ulcers..

Please send the images of sores on the surface of tongue so that I can guide you better..

Hope this information helps..

Thanks and regards.
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Honey Arora (16 minutes later)

All the other sites have cleared and healed. Here is a sore that I had about a week and half ago

Answered by Dr. Honey Arora (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not syphilis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi..
Welcome Again..

As per the image it also does not seems like Syphilitic Ulcer as along with the clinical appearance as well as duration of occurring and duration of healing it is not a Syphilitic Ulcer as well as those healed are also not syphilis because the Syphilitic primary Ulcers heals 4 weeks to 8 weeks after occurrence while the ulcers you had have healed even before 4 weeks..

Nothing to worry as ulcers are not Syphilitic and are CANKER SORES..

If you have any further questions you are welcome..

Thanks and regards.
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj