[Question #8582] Syphilis again

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42 months ago
Hello docs. I know I said I wouldn’t ask any more questions. Thanks for your patience. Everything is the same as in my previous questions. I did leave out one detail being that my partner is pregnant. Recently I learned that syphilis can cause health issues for unborn babies. This is causing me much anxiety. My child shouldn’t suffer for my actions.  I was tested for syphilis at 2 weeks, 5.5 weeks, and 11 weeks after the incident. 1st test was done by quest, and the last 2 done by llabcorp. All were RPR test and all came back non reactive. 1)Can I say with 100% certainty that I don’t have syphilis and that I didn’t give my partner syphilis? 2) Would you test again? 3) should I be concerned with the prozone effect. 4) she is 8 weeks away from being due and is overall having a healthy pregnancy. She’s experienced no symptoms other than a mild rash that I’m told is common for pregnant women. Would she be showing any symptoms if she had caught syphilis from me? She was tested for syphilis at her 1st obgyn appointment but the incident happened after this occurred. Thanks for your help. 

Also I’ve been experiencing pressure in my left ear and I’m seeing a ENT about it. Could this be syphilis or any other std?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum and thanks for your question.  On this occasion I happened to pick up your question and will be replying.  To prepare, I have read your earlier interactions with both Dr. Handsfield and Ms. Warren and agree with all that they said.  The encounter you describe was virtually no risk for acquisition of any STI and since then your testing has confirmed that you were not infected.  That syphilis can cause problem for children born to infected mothers is true but you do not have syphilis, as proved by your multiple tests.  You should believe your test results.  Thus, in response to your somewhat repetitive questions:
1.  Yes, be confident in your test results.  You did not get syphilis and thus, could not have transmitted it to your partner.
2.  Absolutely no need for further testing.
3.  No

There is no need for further testing and no need for continuing concern related to your misstep.  If you cannot control your guilt/anxiety, my recommendation is to seek professional counseling related to your guilt, not to seek further testing or continue to worry..  

The pressure in your ear you describe is not suggestive in the least for syphilis.

EWH
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42 months ago
Thank you doc. Unrelated but someone named Kevin added a response to this thread. Who is that?
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42 months ago
Who is this Kevin fellow adding responses to this thread?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
I do not know who this person is.  Persons other than our clients are not Supposed to be able to access other clients threads. You’ll note that the Interlopers thread was deleted. We are investigating. Apologies. EWH---
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42 months ago
Has my privacy been exposed Bc of this?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
No.  EWH ---
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42 months ago
I guess my only question now is, is there any way I could have given it to her without being infected myself. I waited a week or so after the incident before we resumed having sex. 

Also I did go ahead and get another rpr test. If I DID have syphilis would an rpr still become reactive after 6 months? Basically is there any chance for a false negative?

What environment would have to exist for a false negative to be produced. I read that latent syphilis won't be detected using rpr. Is 6 months long enough for latent syphilis to occur?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
Sigh.  I should have closed this earlier.

No, you could not have given someone syphilis unless you had it.  Your tests PROVE that you did not have syphilis and yes, your RPR would have been positive.  There is no chance you had syphilis.

EWH 
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