Folliculitis or Herpes?

A year ago I had one unprotected sexual encounter with someone I did not know well.  Last week I really cut myself shaving my pubic area in two spots and continued shaving over the next week.  A few days later it became tender in that area, my labia was swollen on that side and I noticed my gland on that side of my pubic area was swollen, also that my glands under the arms were sore.  I noticed over that week or so a change in my vaginal and urine smell.  The day I felt that the labia was infected I left on vacation and spent the next three days in public pools and hottubs.  Over the course of those days I started to devolpe a rash in the vaginal area.  The day I returned home I sped off to the doctor to be tested for herpes as I felt that is what the rash looked like.  She agreed but was very optomistic that I had picked up a folliculitis infection instead.  That day my boyfriend went to the doctor for a couple of bumps in his groin and on his penis and he was diagnosed with folliclitis (doctor is certain it is not herpes).  I am terrified that all of my syoptoms are thos of a herpes infection and am awaiting results.  I am looking for a glimmer of hope that it could be a folliculitis infection.  Could some of my other symptoms be explained by a bacterial infection due to the cuts from shaving? The swelling, enlarged lymph nodes etc. I have not had unprotected sex since then and and have never had any type of sypmtom in the past year.  Would this be a primary herpes outbreak or a recurrence?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your symptoms don't remind me of herpes at all.  Your doctor's examination and tests should clarify the matter.  If you did contract herpes a year ago, you could only get recurrent-type herpes now, and that generally doesn't bring swollen glands and symptoms like your other ones.  My advice is to relax and let the doctor sort it out for you and treat whatever it turns out to be--perhaps folliculitis.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff