Re-Occurring Penis AND Scrotal Swelling, with feaver

About every two months for the past 3 years my penis and scrotum swell to almost double in size.  Penis hurts while swollen, scrotum is very tender/large.  I also get fever, shivering and it is so bad I have to lay in bed for the first day when it

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your case is obviously very unusual, so you will forgive me for not being able to give you a straightforward answer.  The only thing which comes to mind is that you may be getting recurrent herpes that is subclinical (meaning that there are no external signs.)  It might be worthwhile taking an anti-herpes antibiotic (Valtrex, Famvir) on a daily basis to suppress recurrence.  This is quite safe--we use this method all the time for people who get frequent recurrences of herpes.  If you then go several months without another episode like the ones you describe, that may be an answer.

Beyond that, I suggest that you get another opinion, perhaps from someone at an academic medical center who can consult with many colleagues.  Sometimes it helps to have a  fresh pair of eyes (or several) when a case is as perplexing and uncomfortable as yours.

Good luck.

Dr. Rockoff

[lizziecee]

Hi - I don't know if this will help, but I had a similar attack but on my face, it is called erysipelas, an infectious skin disease caused by stapp infection. I first had it 8 yrs ago when it was wrongly diagnosed (by a photo, after the attack had finished) by my previous gastro as Sweet's Disease. Sweet's is assoicated with Crohn's Disease which I have had for 34 yrs.
This recent attack (none inbetween) was 2 months ago and I was taken to hospital by ambulance as I was so ill. My gastro came to see me in hospital, took one look at my face, which was grossly swollen and red and immediately said "You've got erysipelas!" Duh? He had previously worked in a leper colony and with Aids patients and knew a lot about infectious skin problems.
The only treatment is antibiotics. I had erythromycin and the redness and swelling subsided in about a week and I am just left with what looks like sunburn. The attack starts like yours - as if it is the worst flu imaginable - every bone in my body hurt and I had a fever. Although my episodes have always affected my face, I believe it can occur on other parts of the body. There is quite a bit about it on the internet, just google erysipelas.
I hope you get a diagnosis soon, so that you can have appropriate treatment. If it is erysipelas, it can be life threatening if the infection gets to major organs.
Liz.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Erysipelas is a strep infection that involves the face--different location and circumstance from this one.

Dr. Rockoff

[davinder4410]

A related discussion, Periodic swelling of penis and scrotum was started.