Syphillis...could it be?

[wonder2345]

I'm a woman in my early 40s and I was seperated from husband. During seperation, I was involved with a male and had unprotected intercourse/vaginal only  with no ejaculation inside on 7/30/09 n oral with ejaculation/spit n rinsed mouth on 8/23/09. I tested @ 5 months post exposure, Jan. 2009, for hiv and syphillis-negative and @ 6 month mark, Feb. 2009, for hiv, syphillis, chlamydia and gonnorhea and was negative. My concern is that in Nov.2009 I had a ear infection and was given Bactrim.  I took it for only a few days and then was given Tamiflu because I developed the flu. Come to find out it wasn't the flu but an allergic reaction to Bactrim. Could the drugs that I took have masked a syphillis infection causing me to have a false negative?  I'm having symptoms: severe hair loss, a cut near my anus which I thought was from cleaning myself too hard with toliet paper. The cut is still there but its healing...I've had the cut for like 3-4 weeks. I have since reconciled with my husband and am petrified that my tests were all wrong. Btw I do have hsv2 and I did disclose to my fomer partner. I also insisted that he be tested for all stds prior to our engaging. He said he tested and was negative but I never did see the actual results. Only saw his last rapid hiv test which he took on 8/29/09-negative, which was 6 months from his last sexual encounter. Should I retest?  I'm extremely worried.  

[wonder2345]

Thank you once again for the clarification.  No, I was not on Bactrim when I tested...I took it in Nov. 2009 and had the std panel in Feb.2010.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If you were taking bactrim at the time you were tested they might have compomised the detection of chlamydia but if it was not at the same time you were tested it would have no influence on your test results.  Tamifly would have no effect EWH

[wonder2345]

Your response is greatly appreciated.  If you could just answer one last question...In regards to the other std tests that I took, is it possible that the Batrim and Tamiflu, skewed those results as well?  Just want to cover all basis and save myself a few hundred dollars, as I paid for all tests privately/confidentially and did wait until 6 months post exposure to be extra sure.  Regards.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  With two negative tests for syphilis at 5 and 6 months following any possible exposure you can be very confident that you did not get syphilis from your exposure.  Even before you tested your risk was low as syphilis is a very rare infection among heterosexual men and women.  Your two blood test then confirm that you did not get syphilis and are to be believed.  A medication reaction to bactrim or the bactrim itself would not make your test falsely negative and, if anything would be more likely to make your test falsely positive than the reverse.  

The symptoms you describe, hair loss and a rectal sore could have many other possible causes but syphilis has been ruled out.  

I hope this comment is helpful to you. Take care.  EWH