Secondary Syphilis rash?
Age: 29 Sex: Male Medications: None currently Duration of symptoms: ~9-10weeks Existing medical issues: None
Hi, I’ve been dealing with some persistent but confusing symptoms for about 10 weeks and would appreciate your input.
First symptom: (18 days after exposure - receptive oral sex) • Located on dorsal side of the penis • Not painful • A scab that fell off the same day and revealed a plaque/ulcer like change which lasted for 3 weeks and healed with pink scar. • ~4-5 mm in diameter
Other symptoms: (33-34 days after exposure)
• Pain in cervical lymph nodes
• A faint rash on chest and abdomen
• Burning tongue feeling
My first thoughtwas: Definitely Syphilis.
So I tested at 36 days with treponemal EIA which was negative, and then went on Doxycycline: 2x daily for 14 days 100mg.
4 days into Doxy all symptoms dissapeared, but all came back 2 weeks after the last dose.
I retested at 10 and 12 weeks with TPHA and TP ECLIA. Both came out negative. At 12 weeks additional tests were done:
• HIV 4th gen: negative
• HBsAg: negative
• HCV Ab: negative
• NG/CT/Ureaplasma,Micoplasma: neg.
Additionaly, my complete CBC with Liver, Kidney, Thyroid and other markers is normal.
Summary of symptoms:
Main symptoms now: • Mild, diffuse, non-itchy red rash on chest/torso • Rash comes and goes throughout the day (sometimes almost invisible) • No scaling, no bumps, not raised, normal texture • Rash completely resolved while taking doxycycline for 2 weeks, but returned ~2 weeks after stopping • Rash has not gotten worse, just fluctuates
Lymph nodes: • Two lymph nodes under the jaw intermittently swell with pain • Not constantly enlarged • Often normal in the morning • No generalized lymphadenopathy
Mouth/tongue: • Occasional burning/tingling of the tongue and palate • Tongue looks normal
Other symptoms: • No fever, no night sweats, no fatigue, no weight loss • No sore throat, no other systemic symptoms
Do I need to retest, or look into other possibilities?
Posted Dec 6, 2025, 4:59 PM UTC