[Question #11960] Tested negative but do I have syphilis?

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11 months ago

I’m fearful I might have undetected syphilis.  7 years ago I experienced a severe fever the day after a one night stand.  A couple of fluid filled blisters came up around my groin at the same time.  I got these tested but the result was clear.  Over the years I have experienced testicular pain and night sweats.  I’ve gone back for testing on 6 different occasions but every time the results have come back negative.  I haven’t had sex for a number of years now but the symptoms persist.  The night sweats are worse and more frequent, sometimes waking me up several times every night.  I now also have continuous – and almost unbearable - tinnitus which I fear might be Otosyphilis (Ocular Syphilis).  I’ve raised this with the nurse at my local clinic and she seemed never to have heard of it.  She’s said it is impossible to have repeated false negatives.   My question is twofold (1) Could I be experiencing Otosyphilis? (2) Is there an alternative test and more reliable test for the disease?   

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions..  I'll be glad to comment.  The bottom line here is that you do NOT have syphilis.  If you had, one of your multiple syphilis tests would have been positive, particularly if your tinnitus were due to syphilis.  Syphilis tests are quite reliable.  If anything, they are more likely to be falsely positive than falsely negative.

Let me add, epidemiologically syphilis is a rare disease and does not cause symptoms within a day of acquiring infection, nor does it call night sweats or high fevers.

My advice is to stop testing for syphilis- you have over tested.  In addition, to sort this out, my advice is to go see an ENT regarding your tinnitus and your internist to sort our your night sweats which could have many, many causes including reflex esophagitis. 

I hope this information and perspective is helpful to you.  EWH
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