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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Any ideas?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Any ideas?
by Jasper1, May 03, 2006 12:00AM
Had unprotected intercourse on March 25th.
- Tested/seen by GP 3 days later, blood and swab for usual stds all negative.
- 5 days after exposure, developed some redness on the head of my penis, some pain/burning on head and in urethra on urination. Went to see second GP at a clinic 9 days post exposure as symptom persisted. Dr. in clinic swabbed/cultured for HSV & other stds inside urethra and another round of blood tests for typical stds., no lesions but persistant redeness and pain/burning. Put me on meds = single dose 2g of liquid antibiotic – I think Zithromax. Also 5 x a day 200mg of Acyclovir for 6days..
All test results negative.
Pain persited on and off.
25 days post exposure pain and redness persisted but no real change, area of redness is a little larger and included the corona of penis.
Saw a Urologist, not very thourough but says he doesn’t think its HSV – thinks the burning is prostatitis which I had about 8 years ago, and that the rash/burning on the head is an irritation from all of the attention/paranoia.
True to paranoid self, through a website called tSTD got a Herpeselect test – results = positive for HSV1/negative for HSV2. I have had cold sores before so that was not a suprise.
Today almost 6 weeks post exposure, still no lesions – radness getting better, still a little pain on urination but getting better.
1.) I realize that all initial outbreaks for HSV are different – but I have not developed any lesions, or discharge, no fever, swollen glands etc. just and area of redness and pain/intermitant burn on head - Could it still be HSV2 with no change in symptons/this long after potential exposure? or could a 6 day course of acyclovir have suppressed a possible hsv infection such that the symptoms are very mild?
2.)Could having my eurethra swabbed three times and all the attention be casuing the symptoms.
As I said i am extremely paranoid - and feel like an idiot for having unprotected sex!
- Tested/seen by GP 3 days later, blood and swab for usual stds all negative.
- 5 days after exposure, developed some redness on the head of my penis, some pain/burning on head and in urethra on urination. Went to see second GP at a clinic 9 days post exposure as symptom persisted. Dr. in clinic swabbed/cultured for HSV & other stds inside urethra and another round of blood tests for typical stds., no lesions but persistant redeness and pain/burning. Put me on meds = single dose 2g of liquid antibiotic – I think Zithromax. Also 5 x a day 200mg of Acyclovir for 6days..
All test results negative.
Pain persited on and off.
25 days post exposure pain and redness persisted but no real change, area of redness is a little larger and included the corona of penis.
Saw a Urologist, not very thourough but says he doesn’t think its HSV – thinks the burning is prostatitis which I had about 8 years ago, and that the rash/burning on the head is an irritation from all of the attention/paranoia.
True to paranoid self, through a website called tSTD got a Herpeselect test – results = positive for HSV1/negative for HSV2. I have had cold sores before so that was not a suprise.
Today almost 6 weeks post exposure, still no lesions – radness getting better, still a little pain on urination but getting better.
1.) I realize that all initial outbreaks for HSV are different – but I have not developed any lesions, or discharge, no fever, swollen glands etc. just and area of redness and pain/intermitant burn on head - Could it still be HSV2 with no change in symptons/this long after potential exposure? or could a 6 day course of acyclovir have suppressed a possible hsv infection such that the symptoms are very mild?
2.)Could having my eurethra swabbed three times and all the attention be casuing the symptoms.
As I said i am extremely paranoid - and feel like an idiot for having unprotected sex!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 05, 2006 12:00AM
, May 05, 2006 12:00AM
Your symptoms were not those pf herpes. That, plus the negative tests, argue against herpes.
Redness can persist for months after irritation. Pain can be anything from prostatitis to anxiety.
Acyclovir would not suppress the development of antibodies.
If you continue to worry, repeat the herpes select in 2 months. When you find out ti's still negatibve, then forget about it and avoid unprotected exposres.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Redness can persist for months after irritation. Pain can be anything from prostatitis to anxiety.
Acyclovir would not suppress the development of antibodies.
If you continue to worry, repeat the herpes select in 2 months. When you find out ti's still negatibve, then forget about it and avoid unprotected exposres.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff