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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Am I infected?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
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Am I infected?
by mutant, May 21, 2004 12:00AM
Hi,
I made a bad decision one night and after a few too many drinks slept with a close friend of mine. Since it wasn’t planned, it was also unprotected. Also, I had a fresh cut on the front of my thigh just outside the groin area and can’t remember if I had a band-aid on it at the time of intercourse. Does this make more likely of getting herpes? About a month later, I found out that she has herpes. I’m having a blood test but won’t know the results for two weeks. Now I’m extremely paranoid. All of a sudden I feel like I have symptoms. Over the past few days I have some itching and raw feeling in my inner thighs and my scrotum seems a little red. This symptom mainly happens late in the day then is gone by morning. I also had one pimple/boil appear just under my right buttock. It was about a 1/4” and now has just about disappeared in two days. Plus the tip of my penis is sensitive on one side right at the opening. I’ve done so much reading and it’s making me paranoid and confused.
I made a bad decision one night and after a few too many drinks slept with a close friend of mine. Since it wasn’t planned, it was also unprotected. Also, I had a fresh cut on the front of my thigh just outside the groin area and can’t remember if I had a band-aid on it at the time of intercourse. Does this make more likely of getting herpes? About a month later, I found out that she has herpes. I’m having a blood test but won’t know the results for two weeks. Now I’m extremely paranoid. All of a sudden I feel like I have symptoms. Over the past few days I have some itching and raw feeling in my inner thighs and my scrotum seems a little red. This symptom mainly happens late in the day then is gone by morning. I also had one pimple/boil appear just under my right buttock. It was about a 1/4” and now has just about disappeared in two days. Plus the tip of my penis is sensitive on one side right at the opening. I’ve done so much reading and it’s making me paranoid and confused.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 23, 2004 12:00AM
, May 23, 2004 12:00AM
A cut on the thigh wouldn't make you more susceptible to herpes, I would think. Your various symptoms, as you realize yourself, are from anxiety and fear. If you contracted herpes from that episode, you would have blisters, fever, and swollen glands. If you friend has herpes (I assume you mean genital herpes), then you might have contracted it, but if her herpes was inactive at the time, the risk from a single contact is low. You are correct to get a blood test. Assuming it's negative (a safe assumption, I think), just be sure it's been long enough after the exposure to rely on--some tests don't covert for 3-6 months. Check with your doctor and lab. Meantime, all this reading and worrying is doing you no good.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
