\Very, very scared about Herpes

[heythere1980]

Dear Doctor,
I went to one of these walk-in clinics today after disocovering four puffy raised red-brownish spots (in a small clustered area) on my penis last night.
I was immediately convinced it must be herpes - with the cluster, the look, and the fact there is minor pain, minor itch etc. However, the doctor took a quick look at them and said they do not appear to be blisters. I also noticed white stuff, believed to be puss, in the area last night. He said that is another sign they are not herpes.
Because of that, he said he really didn't think it was herpes. Rather, he referred to it as a bacterial infection (I didn't know you can get that in the genital area).
Because I insisted, he took a swab but told me it would come back negative in a week. He kept telling me I have to relax and calm down about it because it's not herpes.

Then, he prescribed me anti-bacterial lotion and an anti-viral lotion. On the anti-viral lotion, it says the medication is often used to treat genital herpes, which scared me yet again. Why would he give me that if he didn't think it was herpes.
Anyway, unfortunately it's the weekend so my family doctor, who I trust is not in for a few days. Does what the walk-in doctor said make sense to you?
I am still freaking out and am convinced this doctor might be wrong.

Scared in Toronto

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think what the walk-in doctor makes perfect sense.  I think he gave you the lotion because it's antibacterial, not because of its antiviral properties.  If he really thought it was a virus, he wouldn't have treated you just with a lotion but would have used an oral antibiotic.  I'm confident that the viral swab will turn out to be negative.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[heythere1980]

One more thing,
He referred to the area as a rash.
Sorry about that.

[bluebird05]

If it was like a pimple with white pus then it probably is not herpes.  Herpes is a blister on top the skin and has a clear fluid and hurts like heck.  Also, topical creams for herpes are useless...only the oral pills are effective.  Wait to see what the Doc. says...good luck.

[heythere1980]

I'm not sure I made it clear what the doctor did.
He gave me two medications - 1. anti-viral. 2. anti-bacterial

I'm confused why he would have given me an anti-viral one.

[fresnoborn]

i can understand your concern but it sounds like a bacterial infection to me. if it were herpes the cream wouldn't work well. another thing, alot of times the creams that are used for one particular thing will work very well when it's something else. good luck to you.

[heythere1980]

Doc,
Still waiting for the results, but a couple of those red spots seemed to fall off in the shower (four days after I first noticed them and six days after I first felt sensitivity in the area) and a couple are still there.
Around them appears to be a lot of white dry peeling off skin.
Does this mean anything?
I went to my family doctor, who said they were scabs and seemed to not be too concerned,saying he highly doubted it was herpes. He told me to relax and wait for the results. He said scabs form for reasons other than herpes.
But I thought scabs and herpes go hand-in-hand.
Anyway, despite having three people tell me it seems not to be herpes, I am still having a lot of trouble believing it because I still feel a minor pain and minor burning from the area.