The patient’s questions reflect their ongoing concern about the effectiveness of syphilis treatment. After two months of treatment, although the symptoms have alleviated, the patient still worries whether the condition has truly been eradicated. In this regard, sexual health experts point out that the key to assessing treatment efficacy lies in the serological response tracking conducted in the third and sixth months after treatment. Particularly for early-stage syphilis patients, if the serum titer does not decrease to below one-fourth of the pre-treatment level within these six months, it is recommended to conduct a cerebrospinal fluid examination to further rule out the possibility of neurosyphilis, and consider retreatment.
As for the criteria for “cure,” it is typically defined as a significant decrease in serum titer that remains stable one year after treatment. For example, although Adong and his friends still show low-level positive reactions for syphilis in their serum, this is to some extent regarded as an indication of cure.
Additionally, it is worth noting that there is always a risk of treatment failure with any medication. Therefore, even if the doctor confirms that the condition is under control, patients should remain vigilant and are advised to undergo serum retesting every six months to a year. If a serum titer suddenly increases fourfold or more, this may signal treatment failure or recent infection, necessitating timely action.
