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Syphilis - Tertiary

Sent to Health Experts March 4 2006 at 4:43 PM
   

I have a very legitimate concern that I have enterred the tertiary stage of syphilis. What advice can you offer to address this situation. I have been tested recently using VDRL tests, but they have come back negative. This conflicts with previous information obtained through other sources.   I was told not to worry about it since I tested negative using VDRL, but I am very worried about it. What can I do at this stage to be 100% certain of the results.   Please help. Optional Information: Male , Age: 42Already Tried: VDRL Test.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 4 2006 at 5:08 PM

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 4 2006 at 4:51 PM (8 minutes and 13 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

Unfortunately, you cannot be 100% sure. The body does not always produce reagin specifically in response to the syphilis bacteria, so the test is not always accurate. The test is similar to the newer reagin plasma response (RPR) test.

I hope this helps. If you need any other information please let me know.

Thanks

Ryan



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March 4 2006 at 5:13 PM (21 minutes and 36 seconds later)
         
Reply to Ryan's Post: Given a status of Tetitary Syphilis, what can be done to accurately diganose the condition?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 4 2006 at 5:15 PM (2 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
Given Status of a Tertiary Syphilis condition,
what steps can be taken adequtely diagnose, with a high degree of confidence?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 4 2006 at 5:48 PM (33 minutes and 39 seconds later)
         
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Ryan -- 10+ years Hospital experience -- 98% Positive Feedback on 137 Health Accepts
Over 10 years Healthcare experience. I only answer questions I am certain of.
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March 5 2006 at 4:26 PM (22 hours and 37 minutes and 37 seconds later)
         
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Ryan -- 10+ years Hospital experience -- 98% Positive Feedback on 137 Health Accepts
Over 10 years Healthcare experience. I only answer questions I am certain of.
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March 5 2006 at 4:26 PM (21 seconds later)
         
Symptoms very widely over the past year. Started with pain in testicles abdomen (sides), which migrated to abdomen (sides). Since then, several very strange sensations that change over time ranging from simple numbness in tongue to teeth grinding at nigth (bit through several dental mouthpieces), more recently - fatigue, pain / "tingling" sensations in abdomen, shortness of breath / chest tighness, numbness in arms during sleep.
I have heard that tertiary stage is tough to catch (reads false negative). Can take an RPR, but will that be conclusive? I am obviosuly willing to spend the time and effort needed to determien the root cause of these sypmtoms. Pimary objective is prove or disprove once and for all wether syphlis is a potential cause.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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March 5 2006 at 5:38 PM (1 hour and 11 minutes and 19 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

Okay, now I know where you are coming from. You want to check syphilis off the list of potential causes.

You are correct, tertiary stage is tough to pinpoint because the symptoms all depend on which organ system has been affected.

When you take the RPR, if it comes back negative, you should be in good shape. Getting negatives on both tests at different times will give you a very good reading.

If you are still not satisfied with negative results on both of those test, you can request a FTA-ABS test. This is a blood test, it stands for (Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test). Anyway, it detects bateria directly related to syphilis. This test is usually only done when either the VDRL or RPR come back positive, BUT it is also used when checking for tertiary and there are fears of a false negative.

And Finally, you can do a spinal fluid exam. CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is obtained through a spinal tap. It's usually for testing bacterial meningitis, but can also be used to check for tertiary syphilis. Really though, if you do the RPR, and the FTA-ABS, this shouldn't be necessary.

That all of them that I know of.

Have I answered your questions? Please don't forget to "Accept" if you think my advice has been useful!

Thanks

Ryan



If you found my help useful please don't forget to "Accept " A Bonus and Feedback is greatly appreciated
Ryan -- 10+ years Hospital experience -- 98% Positive Feedback on 137 Health Accepts
Over 10 years Healthcare experience. I only answer questions I am certain of.
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