help!!!

[OMG2009]

I had an outbreak, or what I thought was an outbreak, in November 2007.  It lasted about 3 weeks and I had some blisters and it was very painful and itchy, but it was only on my labias and around my vaginal opening.  I went for my yearly checkup and the doc said it could have been just an allergy to something; I hadn't had one since.  Now I have this painful, itchy, red rash looking thing close to my anus, but only on one cheek.  Do you think this could be herpes or just a rash?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

I cannot confirm anything without examination but from the description of rashes,it sounds like herpes. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak.

The only way of ruling it out is by getting yourself tested for genital herpes. Laboratory tests include: culture of the virus, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) studies to detect virus, skin biopsy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for presence of viral DNA. I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and get it ruled out.

I hope that helps. Please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Kind regards.