Herpes or Folliculitis or Carbuncles?

[newwave77]

Herpes or Folliculitis or Carbuncles?

Hi.  4 weeks (april 6) ago I had unprotected vaginal sex with a girl, the next day I felt an itchy feeling down my groin area, it looked kind of red.  By the next night (April 7th, less than 24 hours after exposure) I felt sick and noticed a lot of small pimples with white to yellow pus by my pubic hair spreading to the base of my penis.  The pimples only formed where there are hair.  There were like 15-20 of them, some of them were connected and joint to be larger than others.  

So naturally I freaked out and thought I had herpes, especially since I had a lot of symptoms of herpes (even though they didn’t look like classic herpes).  Some of my symptoms the came the next day after the exposure where Swollen lymph node, one Chill, mild fever, fatigue, headache, mild diarrhea and malaise.   Then several days later I feel tingling at random spots of my body, especially my palms.  2-3 weeks later the skin on my palm started to feel very dry and peeling, and my armpit started to bother me.  I started to get very depress(also think that I might have HIV) and have headaches all the time and fell weak and tired all the time.  Now in my 4th week, I feel a little bit better but my skin is still very dry on my palms.  

What do you think this could be?  I went to get tested for std on April 9th, less than 48 hours after the pus filled pimples formed and the specialist said that it doesn’t look like herpes but it could be because of my symptoms (swollen node, chills, etc..).  So she gave me 10 days of Acyclovir and I finished taking them.  The pus filled pimples went way in less than 2 weeks, but I still feel itchy once in a while down there.  When I started taking them my mouth started to stick together and my the skins by my eyes were kind of swollen and dry.  I felt better after I stopped.  The pus filled pimples went way in less than 2 weeks, but I still feel itchy once in a while down there.  Well I got the herpes culture test back and it turned out negative and I hope that it was accurate.  

What do you think?  If it’s not herpes, do you think I should still try to get antibiotics to treat whatever bacteria or disease or virus that it is?  Folliculitis, Carbuncles, Boils? Am I ever going to feel better?

Thank you so much for your help!

-Very concerned

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

A herpes culture in the acute phase should be accurate, so the negative test is meaningful.  Your problem sounds bacterial, if it's not just clogged pores.  If the pus-filled spots recur, I advise you to have a dermatologist examine you and culture the spots and start you on oral and topical antibiotics, if appropriate, pending the results.  I don't really know what to make of the systemic symptoms.  Perhaps drawing herpes and HIV titers in a month or so and again a few months later might be considered, just to allay your anxiety, rather than just waiting for some sort of recurrence.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[newwave77]

Thanks for your quick response doctor.  I seriously hope it's not herpes and just some sort of treatable bacterial infection.  So do you think this seem like a Staph infection thus resulting in folliculitis?  Last week a doctor prescribed me 2 weeks of Doxycycline for bacterial infection do you suggest that I start taking it even though all the pimples already disappeared?  I didn't start taking them because of all the side effects I've read of doxycycline, but at the same time I would like to get rid of whatever bacteria that's been making me sick.  And I'll be getting the blood test for herpes and hiv in two weeks.  Thanks!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Doxycycline is a very gentle drug, but I'm not sure I understand what the point of taking it is if you have no pustules now.  I'd check with your doctor on this.

Dr. Rockoff

[veryconcerned2]

im having similar problems....main difference is the skin on my penis seems to be comming off...wasnt sure if htis would be herpis (herpes) or what...i also got a lot of pimple like things all over the pubic area...this has happened just a day and some change after having unprotected anal sex with my girlfirend (her first time).  she and i have since set up an appointment at the doctor...soonest they could fit us in woul dbe in abotu 2 weeks....is there anyhtign you oculd say to help me be at ease?