What Is The Period Of Incubation Of Syphilis Post Exposure?

Posted on Fri, 9 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 9 Oct 2015 Answered on

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello doctor.
I have had one unprotected sexual episode back on 1st of XXXXXXX and have been tested for hepatitis b /HIV /hepatitis c after that . They have been negative to date.
I also took 1gm stat azithromycin + 500 mg ofloxacin to cover for chamydia and gonorrhea.
I wanted to know if syphilis is a realistic possibility still after all this while ? I haven't had a chancre or the widespread rash which usually occurs !

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Syphilis is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern.

Syphilis is unlikely since you are well past the incubation of period of primary syphilitic chancre, which varies from 9-90 days.
Nevertheless i would still suggest you to take a specific treponemal serological test i.e TPHA test as a confirmatory laboratory test.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 hours later)

Thank you for your guidance .
Sir I'm in USA and getting a blood test is like burning a hole in the pocket. If I may ask would any form of oral treatment work ? I would get the test done later . I have amoxicillin , erythro/azithromycin at my disposal !
Would amoxicillin work ? If yes what would the dose regimen be ?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Enpirical treatment for syphilis is not justified

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I wont suggest any empirical treatment for syphilis because that is not the recommendation. The recommendation is to treat only a confirmed case of syphilis or those who have a serological evidence/ lab test positive for syphilis. Most likely you don't even have the infection since you have not noticed any ulcer or rash sugestive of syphilis; the purpose of lab test is to document the same. However, it would be advisable to get tested at a later date whenever your pocket alows.
Treatment of choice for syphilis is single injection of benzathine penicillin 2.4 MG, I/M , half in each buttock, after test dose.

Regards

** Please correct the grammatical error in my previous reply which was as..."Syphilis is unlikely since you are well past the incubation of period of primary syphilitic chancre, which varies from 9-90 days". Please read it correctly as.. "Syphilis is unlikely since you are well past the PERIOD OF INCUBATION of primary syphilitic chancre, which varies from 9-90 days."

Kind regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (17 minutes later)

Never mind doctor . I took your advise, rather than speculating and consistently worrying over nothing I'm taking a full std panel test including syphilis. Hopefully this will be the end of what has been a very anxious period for a stupid mistake

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A wise decision to go for full STD panel including ELISA for Genital Herpes

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for writing to us.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 days later)

Hi doc ! Last follow up !
Got my results for the panel tests ! Everything non reactive and negative ! Including syphilis and herpes.
The panel included
Hep a/b/c
HIV 1/2
Herpes 1/2
Syphilis(they offered only RPR in the panel)
Gonococcus
Chlamydia
No further testing for me I hope ? Lesson learnt !
Thank you !

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are safe

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

You are all clear.

Regards

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar