Syphilis IgM negative represents what?

Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
Updated on February 26, 2025
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Syphilis IgM negative, which is primarily screened using the ELISA method. Generally, a negative IgM can temporarily rule out syphilis. If still uncertain, further confirmatory syphilis tests can be conducted, such as TPPA (Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination) or TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination). Usually, syphilis can be temporarily dismissed if IgM is negative. However, if symptoms of a primary chancre are present, such as genital ulcers, an early Syphilis IgM might be negative. In such cases where symptoms are clear but IgM is negative, it is typically advised to retest after one month. If the result turns positive, a confirmatory test should be performed to diagnose and treat syphilis.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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Early symptoms of syphilis

Syphilis is a chronic, systemic sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium. It is highly contagious and very harmful. The early symptoms of syphilis usually include the appearance of a chancre. Typically, about three weeks after infection, a hard, painless, round nodule appears at the site of infection. It starts as a reddish, moist spot, then gradually becomes ulcerated and eroded, forming an ulcer. This is an early manifestation of syphilis, known as a chancre. The harm caused by syphilis is very significant. Once syphilis is diagnosed, it is crucial to start treatment early. Early prevention of syphilis is essential, and any early symptoms should be taken very seriously. Treatment can be administered under a doctor's guidance, usually involving the muscle injection of long-acting penicillin. (Under the guidance of a doctor for medication.)

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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When is the third stage of syphilis?

Tertiary syphilis is a relatively late stage of syphilis, often occurring two to three years after the initial detection of the disease. For patients with a longer course of the disease, it generally appears five to ten years later. Once tertiary syphilis is diagnosed, it is often accompanied by damage to various organ functions, such as the cardiovascular system, bones, skin, and nervous system. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and treat syphilis early and to follow standard treatment protocols with a doctor. Otherwise, once it progresses to tertiary syphilis, it becomes very difficult to cure.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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What are the symptoms of syphilis?

Syphilis is divided into acquired syphilis and congenital syphilis, which is transmitted via the fetus. Acquired syphilis, based on the duration of the disease and using two years as a boundary, is further divided into early-stage syphilis and late-stage syphilis. Early-stage syphilis, particularly primary syphilis, mainly presents symptoms such as a chancre and scleradenitis, generally without systemic symptoms. Secondary syphilis occurs when primary syphilis is untreated or not completely treated, allowing the virus to enter the bloodstream from the lymphatic system and spread throughout the body. This causes damages to the skin, mucous membranes, and systemically, known as secondary syphilis. It can manifest as various forms of syphilitic rash, some resembling papular rashes, others similar to dermatitis, eczema, flat lichen, urticaria, psoriasis, pustular disease, and others. Some secondary syphilitic rashes are similar to flat genital warts, and sometimes syphilis can lead to alopecia. Syphilis can also affect mucous membranes, appearing in the mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and genital mucous membranes, characterized by one or more areas of distinct erythema, vesicles, erosion, covered with a grayish-white membrane, generally painless. Some syphilis cases might affect bones, causing damage to bones and joints. Latent syphilis presents no obvious symptoms, and late-stage syphilis might involve the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

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Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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What are the symptoms of AIDS and syphilis?

AIDS and syphilis infections are both long-term processes. For example, a patient with primary syphilis mainly presents with a hard chancre. This can occur at locations such as the corona of the glans penis, the urinary meatus of the foreskin, the labia, the cervix, and also can be seen on the tongue, lips, breasts, and other places. At these locations, a hard chancre appears, which is painless and itchless, and presents as a round or oval, well-demarcated ulcer. The symptoms of AIDS are primarily seen in the early stages of the disease, and include fever, vomiting, fatigue, itchy skin, nodules, joint pain, and other symptoms of decreased immune function.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is tertiary syphilis highly contagious?

The infectivity of tertiary syphilis is not very high, although it still possesses relatively weak contagiousness. Syphilis in its primary and secondary stages often shows high titers in tests and has stronger infectivity, while tertiary syphilis has reduced infectivity. However, tertiary syphilis can easily lead to various complications, including damage to tissues and organs, making it more harmful than the primary and secondary stages. Therefore, it is crucial to treat tertiary syphilis promptly.