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What Are The Chances Of HIV?
Posted on
Sun, 15 Nov 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 15 Nov 2020
Answered on
Thu, 24 Apr 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, I've just finished treatment with Doxcycycline Hydrate 100 mg 2Xs a day for 15 days. In hindsight I had a STI Supposedly Secondary Syphilis rash (needle poke hiding in grass) We were at the park while doing inverted push ups on park bench, stuck deep into my RH palm later developed a nasty pencil eraser sized ulcer and then ulcer went away as I was getting bridge replaced, (was on clindamycin for a week).
I went to three doctors, the first gave me eczema cream for hands and it seemed to work, then ulcer reappeared with a hive like rash, hands first, mid bod, and by the time diagnosed was about 3 to 3.5 weeks into progression. I don't think I ever had chancore on penis) A Dermatologist referral and labs confirmed, effing Secondary Syphilis.
Would a chancre reappear so quickly after just 2 days of stopping doxcycycline? Or is it a derm blister from the doxcy, I have a few on other parts of body. Watery, hard brown red spots.
Doc asking for antibody test, RNA was Pos, at 1.64. Body rash has completely gone away (for now) or am I just starting all over again ?. A paranoid 61 yr old male. Not XXXXXXX or sexually active... HIV NEG. COVID nEG.
I went to three doctors, the first gave me eczema cream for hands and it seemed to work, then ulcer reappeared with a hive like rash, hands first, mid bod, and by the time diagnosed was about 3 to 3.5 weeks into progression. I don't think I ever had chancore on penis) A Dermatologist referral and labs confirmed, effing Secondary Syphilis.
Would a chancre reappear so quickly after just 2 days of stopping doxcycycline? Or is it a derm blister from the doxcy, I have a few on other parts of body. Watery, hard brown red spots.
Doc asking for antibody test, RNA was Pos, at 1.64. Body rash has completely gone away (for now) or am I just starting all over again ?. A paranoid 61 yr old male. Not XXXXXXX or sexually active... HIV NEG. COVID nEG.
Brief Answer:
Regarding rash
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Syphilis is a STD and it can have a generalized body rash in Secondary Syphilis. A primary chancre develops at the site of inoculation, therefore it is usually genital. An extra genital chancre is extremely rare and moreover it would never happen from a thing like a thorn or a piece of wood that could have poked your hand.
Syphilis is usually screened with VDRL or RPR test and confirmed with a specific test for syphilis.
I would like to know which lab tests were done for syphilis? kindly attach report.
Also attach images of the skin rash, if any and ulcer as well
Hope to assist you further with your query. Take care.
Regarding rash
Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Syphilis is a STD and it can have a generalized body rash in Secondary Syphilis. A primary chancre develops at the site of inoculation, therefore it is usually genital. An extra genital chancre is extremely rare and moreover it would never happen from a thing like a thorn or a piece of wood that could have poked your hand.
Syphilis is usually screened with VDRL or RPR test and confirmed with a specific test for syphilis.
I would like to know which lab tests were done for syphilis? kindly attach report.
Also attach images of the skin rash, if any and ulcer as well
Hope to assist you further with your query. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Brief Answer:
regarding syphilis
Detailed Answer:
Thank you.
I have reviewed the reports but none of these are related to syphilis. In order to consider a possibility of syphilis one need to have a reactive VDRL or RPR test. Usually the titres of RPR or VDRL test are more than 1:8 or 1:16 in case of secondary syphilis. A low titre could be false positive. Thereafter, it need to be confirmed by a specific test for syphilis.
Take care
regarding syphilis
Detailed Answer:
Thank you.
I have reviewed the reports but none of these are related to syphilis. In order to consider a possibility of syphilis one need to have a reactive VDRL or RPR test. Usually the titres of RPR or VDRL test are more than 1:8 or 1:16 in case of secondary syphilis. A low titre could be false positive. Thereafter, it need to be confirmed by a specific test for syphilis.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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