PLEASE HELP, IS THIS SYPHILLIS OR ROSEA?

[bread43]

Doctor please help. My wife has a small rash on her left arm and little red spots started to appear on her chest and her back area. Some look like small oval red pimples others look like red spots. Im so scared.

She went to the doctor and he told her that it could be pityriasis rosea? but it also might be sypillis? I got so scared when I heard this. I didnt get any symptoms that I can remember and then all of a sudden she is having some kind of skin outbreak on her upper body and I really dont know what to think at this point.

1)Doctor please help me, do you think this can possibly be due to syphillis?

2) Do you think that if I was exposed a long time ago but i dont think i never got symptoms associated with syphillis that now a couple of years later my wife is showing symptoms that could be related to this disease?

3) Is there a cure if in fact this is syphillis?

Thank you for your time and help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Pityriasis rosea is far more common than syphilis.  In 30 years I have never seen syphilis in a housewife who wasn't at obvious high risk.  Just wait for the syphilis blood test result; if negative it will be 100% proof against syphilis.  Then if your doc still isn't certain about the cause, your wife probably will need to see a dermatologist.

So the answers to your specific questions are:  1) Probably not.  2) That is very unlikely, unless you are a gay man with anonymous partners.  3) Syphilis is easily cured with antibiotics.

Relax and just wait for the negative blood test.  If it happens to be positive, feel free to come back with further questions.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[bread43]

One more qustion doctor if you were to help me find answers to this.

They say in most HPV infections are asympotmatic and you gont dont get any symptoms associate with HPV. My wife was diagnosed with HPV a couple of years ago and found that her pap test was abnormal. Now does that mean she is in the 10% that actually shows symptoms of HPV, since her pap test came back abnormal and now she needs tests every 6 months to monitor it? What does this mean and is she at high risk for cervical cancer now since she has abnormal pap tests? Thank you!

[bread43]

Sorry about the HPV question doctor.

Say that I messed around a while ago and of course I regreted it, I dont believe I ever showed symptoms of syphillis, do you think that is possible for her to show signs of this disease when I dont think I showed signs.

If she indeed has this, knock on wood, would mostly everyone get red spots on her palms of hand and under her feet?

I very nervous and scared hoping that it wasnt caught too late say in fact that it is syphillis and maybe it might be too late to cure it with penicillin thats all i keep thinking about.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You're now asking a wholly separate question and it has been dealt with innumerable times on this forum.  Since your wife was told to get checked every few months, and not more aggressive diagnosis or treatment right now, it is likely she has an early pap abnormality, not an advanced one that requires early treatment. The odds are good she has HPV.  She should follow her provider's advice; if she does, she'll never have a serious health problem from it.  For more informaton use the search button on this forum to look for "HPV" and "human papillomavirus"; or read the HPV/warts articles at www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std, or www.cdc.gov/std.

HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We are posting simultanouesly.

No need to apologize about asking about HPV.  It's just that the information is readily available.

I already told you that it is unlikely you infected your wife with syphilis.  Stop worrying about syphilis  until the blood test is back.  If it is positive, that is the time to figure out where it came from.

I won't have any further comments unless you want to return to post her syphilis blood test result.

[bread43]

Doctor I know you told me to wait, but I cant take it anymore. I have to ask you again, im sorry

My wife looks likes shes breaking out with more raised red spots on her chest and her back. they seem to be getting redder than they use to. So far she only has one light pink rosea patch on her arm and the rest are dark red spots/rasied pimple like on her chest and back. And now her sinuses are bothering her, coughing, scratchy throat, runny nose,etc.

Im very worried and scared thinking that these are signs of syphillis. I heard that you get them on ur palms and soles is this correct, Does that mean that if she had this STD she would have sign in these areas

Her dermatologists told her that it could be pityriasis rosea cause by syphillis but hes not sure.

IM VERY SCARED THINKING I WAS EXPOSE TO THIS STD WHO KNOWS WHEN, WOULD I HAVE RED SYMPTOMS OF THIS STD ON MY BODY(RED SPOTS, SORES, ETC) BEFORE MY WIFE DID? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT I DONT THINK I SHOWED SIGNS OF THIS STD AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WIFE IS BREAKING OUT WITH THESE SYMPTOMS.

PLEASE HELP ME! IM SORRY BUT I NEED ADVICE

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Cool it.  You are panicking unnecessarily.  You misunderstood the dermatologist:  syphilis does not cause pityriasis rosea.

I am not a psychological counselor.  I will delete this entire thread if you keep it up.  Good bye.