various symptoms (12/30/06)

[saybo2000]

Hi.  Thank you for this forum.  I'm an American, currently living in Brazil.  I have had unprotected sex with two women approx 2-3 weeks ago (it is now 12/30), and I had protected sex with three women 6 days ago (at one time), but also engaged in unprotected oral sex.  4-5 days ago I noticed a rash on my underamrms, behind my knees and in one small spot (dime sizred) on my neck.  The rash is red, and slightely raised. Behind my knees and underarms the area of the rash is about 1 square inch. It is not particularly itchy, but it does itch from time to time(especially when scratched).  A day after the rash appeared, I began to experience flu symptoms.  Sore and red throat, slight fever.  I called a doctor and he decided I had a bacterial strep like infection and prescribed Clavulin (500mg x 3 per day x 7 days).  The doctor also prescribed a cream for the rash, Berlison 1% (he sspected I was allergic to something).  At the time of writing this, I have been on the Clavulin and Berlison for 3 days.  My sore throat is feeling much better, and in general, I feel less sick (although I walked around a bit today and felt tired and feverish). My rash, however, has been virtually unaffected.  In fact, it is slowly spreading to the back of my arms (not nearly as acute as under my arms or behind knees).  I called the doctor again, and he prescribed Meticorten (20MG X 2 per day x 5 days).  I took my first dose today.  I also noticed this morning that the head of my penis is dry and flaky (no itching and no discoloration).  My doctor prescribed Icaden cream for what he thinks is a yeast infection (he did this over the phone when I described my symptoms).  I apply one does per day for 10 days.  I've taken one dose.  Lastly, I noticed very tiny reddish/whitish dots on the top of my lip and in the corners.  They do not itch. They are very slightely raised.  Very difficult to notice.

The only other pieces of info I think you may need are:

I have had herpes (non-genital) for 8 years.  I take 500 mg of Valtrex daily to prevent outbreaks.  When I stop my daily dossage, I usually break out within a few days.  Since i felt sick 5 days ago or so, I have been taking 1000 mg a day anticipating that the herpes may come back because my immune system was fighting the flu (or whatever I had/have).  I have not had a herpes outbreak in the past week (or months).

I had an HIV test two days ago and it came back negative.

I had a massage (using oil) 5 days ago.  I've never had an allergic reaction to oil and I have massages often.

So...any ideas?

Slightely freaked out and itchy in Brazil.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sounds like you're getting over a bug of some sort and have some dry skin as well.  Doesn't seem to add up to an STD, as was apparently the feeling of the doctors you saw.  The dry spot on the penis and the white spots around the lips sound like nothing at all.

I'm afraid that's all I can say from here.  You should ask the doctors you've seen whether they even suspect an STD.  I doubt it though.

Avoiding unprotected sex is of course a good idea in general...

Dr. Rockoff