[Question #2582] Syphilis still worried

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96 months ago

I went to a massage parlor and the woman sat naked on my back. Then I turned over for a handjob.  4 weeks later I noticed a small red spot on my skin.lower back, , It was flush with the skin., a week or so later I had another flat red spot show up and then a week later a brownish lesion flat with skin like 1/2 inch,, looked like a burn. It was not painful. I noticed these after I would cut grass for hours on the lawnmower. The original first red mark went away after a week,, maybe 8-9 days.. I picked at the other bigger lesion (spot on skin) and it came off and left a scar.
 

 I was worried it was syphilis. I went to my doctor and he said it did not look like syphilis. He knew I have anxiety so he did a RPR blood test. It was non reactive,. This was done 7 weeks after my massage experience. I was still worried and anxious after the test, so I went to my moms house and let her see the spot on my lower back. She touched it, Now I am worried if it happened to be syphilis could she have been infected on her finger? She is 83 years old.She ended up with a sore on her side of the thumb by the knuckle.  Then she had what seemed to be a bad sinus infection. Fever, very sore throat. 1 year later she has developed a pain in her right knee  and tenderness by the joint. I cannot keep it out of my mind for over a year now that what I had might have been syphilis and when my mom looked at it  she touched it ,that is might have caused a transmission,  not sure that part of her finger would have touched the spot I had but it still worry's me.  Please help


My main concern is that if it were syphilis and my mom touched it she might have got infected on her thumb. She got a sore on the side of her thumb.. then couple months later she got sore throat and tender lymph nodes . it has been a couple years now.. she is 83..  she has developed some memory issues and urinary incontinence..   I guess I am thinking that this is neurosyhilis.  she also gets lightheaded and her vision has changed som

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
96 months ago
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

For sure you do not have syphilis from the exposure described (or any other). First, in the US syphilis is dominantly an infection of men who have sex with men; even among sex workers, few women are infected. Second, you cannot catch syphilis from the kinds of exposures described. Third, a "small red spot...flush with the skin" is bot conbsistent with sypyilis, and neither is the brown flat lesion that came a bit later -- as your doctor also agreed when he examined you. Fourth, a negative RPR at 7 weeks proves you were not infected. Fifth, even if somehow the skin lesions you describe were syphilis, touching as your mom did is free of risk, regardless of her sinus symmptoms etc. Sixth, knee pain isbn't a syphilis symptom, and her age related symptoms also are not suggestive of syphilis.

So all is well. You don't have syphilis and your mom doesn't either, at least not from you. (Of course I have no way to know whether there is anything in her personal sexual history that might put her at risk of syphilis. But probably not, as I suspect you'll agree.) You do not need any further testing and your mom shouldn't be tested for it unless her own sexual history indicates a need.

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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96 months ago
my main worry was she might have got it when she touched the spot on my back..        it scares me,,       so that is not possible?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
96 months ago
We don't expect much from forum users, but we do expect them to read our replies! Was there something unclear about "Fifth, even if somehow the skin lesions you describe were syphilis, touching as your mom did is free of risk..."? ---
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96 months ago
I did read all of your replies.sorry for asking repetitive questions. I just have anxiety from all this and I was just so concerned for my mother.   You stated that I dont have syphilis and neither does my mom (at least not from me)     I know without any doubt she has had no sexual experiences in her life to put her at that risk. She was only with my dad.. 47 years of marriage until he passed away..  They were faithful to each other..        I guess when you made that statement she doesn't need testing unless her own sexual history indicates a need.   I had anxiety wondering if she could have got syphilis in a non sexual manner. The symptoms she had and all I read on the internet seemed to be similar to neurosyphilis ..  I have had anxiety over this too long.   I want to move forward and put it behind me..   I know I dont have syphilis. my main concern became my mom.  I guess I  put things together and anxiety drove it..  The internet has so much on it about syphilis and I became engulfed in it. 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
96 months ago
I brought up your mom only because you did, and explained why even if you had syphilis, it is not possible she was infected by touching you. You are also confident she could not have acquired syphilis in the tradiational way. Therefore, it's a done deal. Any obsession you have about your mom and syphilis indicates irrationality on your part. There is no basis for this obsession. Just drop it. If you cannot, professional counseling is the logical next step. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism -- but emotionally healthy people don't have such thoughts, no matter what they read online. I would also suggest you stop searching the internet about such issues. Like many anxious persons, you are being drawn to false information (or are misintrepreting things you see) that inflames your fears, while missing the reassuring bits. For sure never go to sites that have unchallenged testimonials by infected persons, without medical monitoring or supervision.

That concludes the two follow-up comments replies included with each question, and so concludes this thread. Do not be tempted to start a new thread with additional questions about this non-exposure event or your fears of syphilis in either you or your mother. Repetative anxiety driven questions are not permitted, and are deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. If you remain concerned, carefully re-read all my replies above:  there is nothing more you will think of that would change our opinions or advice.

Despite your obvious resistance to reasonced, science based advice, I hope the discussion has been helpful to you.
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