re-test?

[johnlsullivan]

The short story (from another thread), unprotected intercourse Feb, 2011>>panicked>>tested neg.>>got over it.  Fast forward to Oct. 2011, raised lesion with irregular border develops on inside lower left lip.  Over the next 3 months a similar lesion develops on the right side (inside lower lip).  The two lesions simultaneously get mildly inflamed, develop dead skin the next day, on the 3rd day the dead skin is gone and lesions are quiet again.  The 3 day sequence repeats every 10 to 15 days and is still currently going on.  At this point I'm still ok, then, 2 weeks ago I developed a pruritic, symmetrical rash on the front of each bicep that cleared up with 3 days of topical cortisone.  By this time I'm thinking, persistant oral lesions, symmetrical rash, this is creeping me out.  I had a negative RPR 81 days post exposure.  Any need to repeat it?  Due to see my GP next week.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad I could help.  Google, for all the good it does, is not always ou friend. EWH

[johnlsullivan]

Thanks so much for your quick reply.  I read about the doxy in one of your other posts and thought that might be the case.  The rash and the duration of the oral ulcers (>yr.) was getting me spooked.  Your comments are VERY helpful.  One of these days I'll learn not to google phrases like "persistant oral lesion".

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum.  You can be confident that the oral lesions and rash you have experienced are not syphilis.  The disease is rare and doxycycline you took shortly after your exposure about a year ago would have prevented syphilis infection if you had been exposed.  There is no need for further syphilis testing.

As for your lesions and rash, the mouth ulcers you describe sound more like canker sores than anything else (oral HSV typically involves the lips while canker sores do not).  I have no good explanation for the rash but I can assure you that a syphilitic rash would not go away with topical steroids.

I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH