LymeNet Flash: Could syphillis be mistaken for lyme?

This is topic Could syphillis be mistaken for lyme? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by JaimieB (Member # 19076) on :

Good morning everyone!!

I got up this morning at 4 am for some unknown reason and on the news, they mentioned that the cases of syphillis have doubled here.

Here is my question, since the syphillis sprichoete is a cousin of the lyme sprichoete could it show up postive in a blood test for syphillis but really be lyme?

That was just on my mind so I thought I would ask.

Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :

That's what happened to my grandmother.

Posted by ESG (Member # 4816) on :

I do know that I was told I had Syphillis until the doc read the remaining parts of the blood test,then said "oh,you actually have Lyme" ... that was an ENT. I immediately went to my regular doc and she laughed and said that is a
common mistake - to say yes to Syphillis when someone has Lyme because they are both spirochetes.

ESG

Posted by JaimieB (Member # 19076) on :

Thank you both for your replies. I felt compelled to add a comment on the story on the news website. I read several sites that say lyme disease can create syphillis false postive results. It also sited that it should always be considered as a possibilty especially when there is lack of sexual activity and if you live in a epeidemic area. Which, IMO is everywhere just about!

Posted by JaimieB (Member # 19076) on :

I am thinking I may the subject of this thread backwards but I am not sure. Hello to not thinking and comprehending clearly.

Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :

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I don't recall if this addressed your question about testing but it does discuss the similarities.

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www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/5/1/40

Persisting atypical and cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi and local inflammation in Lyme neuroborreliosis

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Posted by soonermom (Member # 14494) on :

They had a story on the news here about a syphillis "outbreak" in teens here.

Since they deny that lyme exists here, I couldn't help but wonder...

Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :

"Lack of sexual activity," you say?

http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/bach.html

Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :

adamm - it's a small study & there could be many reasons why both partners are infected. People take walks together, go outside, live in the same area, etc.

From my studies, I believe that you need the *tick saliva* to be infected. Do some research on tick saliva...

I may be wrong but this is what I believe. If Lyme were easily sexually transmitted - everyone would have it by now. It's been around since the 70's.

I can see that the tests for syphilis could be inaccurate & actually be Lyme, though. The tests for Lyme are notoriously inaccurate.