Do I just have balanitis or perhaps herpes?

[GRZ]

Hi guys,

A little concerned. A few days ago I noticed I had a rash on my thigh, causing some itchiness. Didn't worry much about it until I noticed a couple days after that that there was some redness/irritation on the crown of the penis.  I had been swimming a lot, and continued wearing my damp swim trunks for several hours after leaving the pool.  From what I've read online, sounds like it could be something like balanitis.  Of course I was concerned about herpes, so I made an appt. at a clinic.

Went to a clinic today - the nurse practitioner said the rash on my leg
"was definitely not herpes" and that the rash on the penis "does not look like herpes at all." In other words it is not the typical blistering, etc.

Also, the last sexual contact was five or six weeks ago - so is this outside the window for getting symptoms (if I were to have contracted it with that partner). No fever or other "first time" HSV type symptoms.

The rashy area on the penis is sort of a oval-shaped ring of redness with a slightly darker center.  There is some sensitivity and occassional mild itching.

The NP prescribed an antifungal/cortisone cream. Should I be concerned about herpes? I can't help but feel a little worried.   Should I get the bloodtest for herpes?

Thoughts?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Ho, you shouldn't still be worried.  Your description matches balanitis, not herpes.  So I think you should accept the nurse's diagnosis and follow her instructions (although I doubt you need the fungal part of the cream.)  Just apply the cream, don't rub at it, and you should be fine.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Agreed.

Dr. Rockoff

[GRZ]

PS- used the cream the doctor prescribed and it seems tohave gotten rid of about half the rash on the penis already - so i am feeling optimistic about it not being Herpes