HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Can One Contract Syphilis Through Kissing?

Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2015

Question: About 5 days after deep kissing a prostitute I developed what I think was an inflamed taste bud. I actually pulled the taste bud off with a tweezer and in two days developed a non painful sore, I am worried I may have gotten syphilis from the deep kissing can you please look at the picture and give your opinion if it is trauma or possible syphilis

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

Brief Answer:
Seems like a traumatic ulcer rather than a chancre

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have gone through your query and I have also reviewed the image.

Most likely is a traumatic ulcer Or an aphthous ulcer.
Syphilitic chancre has an incubation period of 9-90 days (average 3 weeks) therefore an ulcer appearing at just about 7 days after a possible infection is a little soon than what it should be with syphilis.
I suggest you to do chlorhexidine mouthwashes for a few days and it should be fine.

Regards

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

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

It doesn't hurt like a canker, so probably just a trauma sore. It first appeared 5 days after contact. With that aside does it look like a syphilis chancre?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Syphilis is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Cannot just go purely by the morphology of an ulcer. We have to also take into consideration the incubation period of an STD.
I rule out syphilis considering that it appeared just 5 days after a contact. If it had appeared later e.g at 3 weeks I would have considered syphilis.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (9 minutes later)

Ok, so just to be clear the papule ( what I believed to be an inflamed taste bud) came at 5 days after the event and the sixth day a pulled it off and there was a sore. Based on the timing we can rule out syphilis and no testing is needed?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No test needed for syphilis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes. I don't think you need to test for syphilis. I don't think it is a chancre.

Regards

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

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

I'm still a little nervous about it being a chance. Although it has gotten smaller the white ring and slightly rolled edges look a lot like a chancre. I've attached another photo. I would appreciate your opinion.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
May take RPR and TPHA test for syphilis to relieve anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I have reviewed the Image.
Though it is hard for me to be absolutely sure just going by the morphology of ulcer if I totally disregard the time period of its appearance after that kissing incident however, the time lag between the kissing incident and its appearance is too short which goes against syphilitic chancre.
Since you are having considerable anxiety I suggest you to take a TPHA and RPR test for syphilis after another 3-5 days i.e a week after appearance of ulcer (the ulcer has been there already for 2 days since you contacted me).
It is unlikely that RPR would be positive this soon but TPHA has a short window period and is usually positive 1 week after the appearance of chancre.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (16 minutes later)

The testing would just be for anxiety? You still believe medically because of the timing testing is not warrented...correct?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Timing plus the nature of contact does'nt convince me that it is syphilis

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Yes, timing goes against it. However there is no harm in testing.
Moreover, in my clinical experience, Oro-genital sex rather than kissing is a more common cause of an Oral syphilitic chancre. Kissing is assumed to be a very rare cause of a syphilitic chancre, if at all.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (31 minutes later)

I'm still a little confused by your answe, I know there is no harm...but medically do you think it is warrented?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I would not ask you to go for tests right now

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

According to me testing for syphilis is not absolutely necessary right now. It is not my primary possibility. In first instance I would consider it as a traumatic ulcer because it had a very short incubation period and moreover kissing is not a common route for syphilitic chancres in mouth.
A syphilitic chancre may persist for a longer duration than a traumatic ulcer does i.e sometimes 2-3 weeks or sometimes longer. In case this ulcer does'nt heal as expected i.e may be in another 3-4 days only then I would consider possibility of a chancre and you may then go ahead with tests.

Regards

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

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