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How can I cure syphilis through medication?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have the first stage of syphilis. I came to know about this last month. For the past three weeks, I have been under treatment and taking Doxycycline 100 mg capsule twice a day. I took this medication for 15 days. Yesterday, I had a blood test done for VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory), and my value is reactive (1:4).

Also, the ulcer on my penis head has not yet healed. I was asked to apply povidone-iodine 10 % ointment on the ulcer. Should I go for Penicillin treatment? I got tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2 tests (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and CMIA (Chemiluminescence Microparticle Immunoassay)a month back with a value of 0.15, and ten days before, the value was 0.13.

Currently, I am consulting a dermatologist. Should I switch to a sexologist for syphilis treatment? Also, please suggest what diet I should follow to overcome this disease?

Kindly guide.

Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Meha Malhotra

Education:

MD DVL

Professional Bio:

Dr. Meha Malhotra is a Dermatologist, Venereologist, and HIV specialist who completed her MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from Gujarat University in 2012. She diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the Skin, Hair, and Nails. She also specializes in treating conditions affecting mucous membranes or the delicate tissue that lines the mouth, nose, and eyelids. She has given a fine-tune to many beautiful faces and helped her patients achieve the long-sought and chiseled features. She is currently practicing in Ahmedabad with 11 years of clinical experience.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Penicillin is the most definitive treatment for syphilis, but get the allergy test done before taking the full treatment. Apply Mupirocin ointment twice a day on the Ulcer. Continue your doctor's treatment as he or she is examining you in person, so they are the best judge for the line of management.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

One more question, today I had nucleic acid testing for HIV-1 (RNA), the test result was lower than the detectable limit. I am not sure what this means. Does this mean that I do not have HIV, or should I wait for the three-month window period to complete to check once again?

I went for an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) RNA (ribonucleic acid) test, as someone suggested that it can detect if HIV is present within a nine-to-11-day window period.

Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Meha Malhotra

Education:

MD DVL

Professional Bio:

Dr. Meha Malhotra is a Dermatologist, Venereologist, and HIV specialist who completed her MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from Gujarat University in 2012. She diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the Skin, Hair, and Nails. She also specializes in treating conditions affecting mucous membranes or the delicate tissue that lines the mouth, nose, and eyelids. She has given a fine-tune to many beautiful faces and helped her patients achieve the long-sought and chiseled features. She is currently practicing in Ahmedabad with 11 years of clinical experience.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

What I could understand is that this was a PCR test for HIV RNA. I need to know the time duration since the exposure to be able to comment for sure. Fourth-generation ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test is to be done at six weeks and repeated at three months to be sure. The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test comes back positive in three to four weeks.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I was exposed two months back.

Answered by Dr. Meha Malhotra

Education:

MD DVL

Professional Bio:

Dr. Meha Malhotra is a Dermatologist, Venereologist, and HIV specialist who completed her MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from Gujarat University in 2012. She diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the Skin, Hair, and Nails. She also specializes in treating conditions affecting mucous membranes or the delicate tissue that lines the mouth, nose, and eyelids. She has given a fine-tune to many beautiful faces and helped her patients achieve the long-sought and chiseled features. She is currently practicing in Ahmedabad with 11 years of clinical experience.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Get a fourth-generation ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) for HIV 1 and HIV-2 done at three months from exposure to be sure.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At March 4, 2018
Reviewed At June 3, 2026

Education:

MD DVL

Professional Bio:

Dr. Meha Malhotra is a Dermatologist, Venereologist, and HIV specialist who completed her MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from Gujarat University in 2012. She diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the Skin, Hair, and Nails. She also specializes in treating conditions affecting mucous membranes or the delicate tissue that lines the mouth, nose, and eyelids. She has given a fine-tune to many beautiful faces and helped her patients achieve the long-sought and chiseled features. She is currently practicing in Ahmedabad with 11 years of clinical experience.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Meha Malhotra
Dr. Meha Malhotra

Dermatology

Consult this doctor

Education:

MD DVL

Professional Bio:

Dr. Meha Malhotra is a Dermatologist, Venereologist, and HIV specialist who completed her MD in Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy from Gujarat University in 2012. She diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the Skin, Hair, and Nails. She also specializes in treating conditions affecting mucous membranes or the delicate tissue that lines the mouth, nose, and eyelids. She has given a fine-tune to many beautiful faces and helped her patients achieve the long-sought and chiseled features. She is currently practicing in Ahmedabad with 11 years of clinical experience.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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