Is it herpes?

I recently developed a red splotchiness on the head of my penis.  I have never had unprotected sex and have always had the disease talk with my sexual partners.  But, I am aware that a person can have herpes and not even know it and transmit it to other people.  Anyway, the redness hasn't been accompanied by any other symptoms.  I don't have flu symptoms, hey don't itch, and the redness is concentrated on the head and just under the rim of the head.  It did appear glassy for a bit.  The funny thing is I had been washing it with soap a few times a day.  When I stopped doing this though it started to heal.  Has anyone out there had a similar experience?  I am going a little crazy over this...

[gracefromHHP]

this could be from over washing or it could be a fungal infection. it doesn't sound like herpes. follow up on it with your provider for a better diagnosis.

grace

[dyinggaul]

One thing that I looked into is balanitis.  This seems to occur primarily in uncircumsized men, and I am circumsized.  But, it does seem to fit the description.  

[world78]

Hi Man
I'm in the same state, I'm also uncircumsized man. I had multiple partners( unprotected oral sex) few days back I found kind of broken skin then become sore but not flu, no pain( I'm ware the symptoms vary person to person) after I read your post I did some google about Balanitis yes it does look like that but review my sexual history I don't what think. First I went to Gp doc he said not worry, keep your penis clean with warm salted water. I worried much so I went STD clinic where they said its looks like herpes. I'm waiting for the lab results for comfirmation but under herpes medication. Very recently my uncle had same problem penise head full red spots, he could pull his foreskin back also he diabetes finally he had circumsize. I hope it not Herpes for both of us. keep intouch

[dyinggaul]

Yeah.  Mine is starting to clear up.  I was talking to a friend the other day because I went to an STD clinic as well and they said it looked like herpes and took a blood sample for a test, and he said that in his experience STD clinics try really hard to scare people.  I think that herpes classically has lesions that burst as the virus leaves the body.  I guess we will wait and see...

[petal130]

As Grace said, it doesn't sound like herpes. Did they test you for yeast as well (swab)?

Indeed, classic herpes does involve lesions typically. I can speak from experience. Stop washing so much as well - really not necessary and could easily be what's irritating it!

[dyinggaul]

They didn't swab for yeast.  There was no fluid to swab, that's why I wanted to take blood test.  There wasn't any fluid until I went home and started to wash it with conventional soap.  Then I started to see a glassiness just under the head in the corona.  When I stopped washing it because I did research on balanitis, is when the glassy appearance went away and it started to heal over.  

Thank you for the comments thus far.  They have really helped ease my mind. :)

[world78]

Hi grace/others
Can you tell me how simliar the Balanitis and Herpes in visual and symptoms? My sore healed almost just vey mild mark left I hope it'll also go!

Hi dyinggaul
let me know your result

[gracefromHHP]

this isn't balanitis. it doesn't sound at all like it plus you are circumsized so it's impossible for you to have it.  

it doesn't sound anything like herpes either.

over washing can cause irritation and dryness. try something as simple as either a jock itch ointment which will also moisturize even if this isn't jock itch going on or something like aquaphor ointment which will help with irritation and moisturize.

follow up with your provider as needed.

[world78]

Yesterday I called my hospital, the result is out and managed to got prepond appointment that is today 4 pm. Now I'm at work got 2 more hrs. I'm scared now.... I'll post my result. Having very little hope that it shouldn't herpes.

[dyinggaul]

What was your result?

[world78]

I'm confused more, I just came from hospital, the following is my result

Comments:Source: Genital,penile swab
Clinic diagnosis: Penile sore
Ordered: HSV Ag IF
HSV Ag IF Unsuitable(only few cells seen)

My doc said nonconclusive, there was no enough fluid and said I may have or mayn't have but according to the appearance it's looks like herpes and reacted for antiviral treatment so he asked me consider that I have Herpes. I did asked why it can't be some other fungal,balanitis, allergy infection again he said its reacted for antiviral.(I guess went wrong Doc) I can't come for a end. He also said Igg test can't prove 100%. How it possible!!!!! but I'll go for Igg test after 2 or 3 months. I also went to other STD clinic after 10th day of my expos I know it was late and moreover I was in antiviral already when I went this STD clinic, they also did swab.Now I guess my second result will be negative or nonconculsive... Why did I do this for me?!?!??!?

http://***.************.***/********.***
Check out this link.

Have you got your result?

[dyinggaul]

I still haven't heard anything.  I went to a Planned Parenthood clinic and they only call you if your results were abnormal, that is if you're blood shows herpes antibodies.  So, I guess that is good that I haven't heard anything yet.  That is really odd about your results.  I realize that you were taking anitviral medication, but were you doing anything else to treat the condition?  It just seems like that could be as much a part of its healing as the antiviral medication.  Does anyone else have any thoughts?

[world78]

I hope yours must be negative. I had only Antiviral tablet and cream nothing else.

Is it possible the sore get cure by antiviral if its other infection like gungal, balanitis, allergy, irritation?

[dyinggaul]

My results came back positive today.  Needless to say I was disappointed.  But, I am starting daily acyclovir therapy to reduce transmission and outbreaks.  Life is tough...

[Still_Worried_]

You took a blood test, correct?   Was it IgG?  And what was your numerical value?

[world78]

What? Positive!!!? I thought your's will be negative.Oh Man!! Can you answer to Still worried?

[dyinggaul]

I did take a blood test and it was IgG.  My numeric value was 1.49 for type 2 and not within range for type 1.

[Still_Worried_]

This is a low positive & needs confirmation.   When was the last time you've had sex?  

You could repeat your IgG in a month or so, or opt for a Biokit or Western Blot.
Only 20% of people with results in that range are actually positive. (I'm sure Grace will correct me if I'm wrong on that statistic). =)

[dyinggaul]

The last time I had sex was a couple of weeks ago.  I have never had unprotected sex, but I regularly had unprotected oral sex.  Could it be that it just hasn't been long enough for there to be high enough numbers?

[gracefromHHP]

at this point you need to wait and repeat your igg blood test whenever it's 3 months post encounter. should you get more obvious symptoms of herpes prior to that, be seen promptly for further evaluation. Nothing else you can do at this point to know if you really have hsv2 or not.

[dyinggaul]

Should I stay on the Acyclovir?  

[gracefromHHP]

I'd stop it. that way if you get a return of symptoms, you can get the lesion culture and have more trust in the results.  

[world78]

Hi Dyinggaul
Today I got all the lab test came negative which was done on 10th day, here the follwoing


Herpes simplex Virus isolation
Specimen - Swab
Specimen comment - Penis
Herpes simplex virus 1 Culture - Negative
Herpes simplex virus 2 Culture - Negative
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hep B Surface Ab(Anti-Hbs) - Negative(<=10mIU/mL)*
Hep B Surface Ag(HBsAg) - Negative*
----------------------------------------------------------
PCR for Chilamydia and GC
Chlamydia PCR - Negative
GC- PCR -  Negative
----------------------------------------------------------
PCR for Chilamydia and GC
RPR screening - Non-reactive
----------------------------------------------------------
My Doc said we can't came for conclusion by the results because I went there on 10th day and moreover I was in antiviral med so he suggest to take IGG test on 8th week. I just want to be sure whether if my infection is new or not so I gave blood for IGG today, result will be in 2 week
My doc also adcived me to take Hepatitis B Vaccination. I toke 1 dose today need 2 more dose, 1 in next month and march 2011. I thought my sore may be syphilis so atleast I can have cure but its not now left no choice so I convince myself that I have herpes.

[WarOnTheTerraces]

Ive the same as you splotchiness on my penis glans (glands), used fungal cream and ive used steroid cream for 1 week still no improvement..............................

[dyinggaul]

I had a recurrance of physical symptoms on the shaft of my penis and this time I decided to go to a doctor.  He took a swab of it for a culture test, but said he was almost certain it wasn't herpes and that I certainly didn't have any symptoms of a herpes infection.  I told him about the results of my blood test and he said that all that means is that I have herpes antibodies in my blood stream and that at some point I have been exposed to the herpes virus - not necessarily that I am infected.  This he said is why blood tests for herpes are not really recommended by public health experts.  After his physical examination he also said that contrary to the nurse at PP's assessment, my lymph nodes were not swollen and I had no physical symptoms of hereps.  I feel more lost than ever.  He recommended I stop taking the acyclovir as well.  Any thoughts????

[gracefromHHP]

blood tests for herpes are worthwhile. they are recommended by public health experts. No idea why your provider said what he did. Your results do not mean you were exposed at some point. there' s no such thing as blood tests just showing that you were exposed at some point - you are either positive on them or negative but there are the false positive issues to contend with. do not hesitate to pay to post to Terri Warren , our herpes expert here on medhelp, for her assistance too but I can pretty much guarantee her advice isn't going to differ from mine. At this point confirmatory testing is in order unless you get a + lesion culture to confirm your status.  

you have no reason to take acyclovir.

[dyinggaul]

My lesion culture came back negative.  So at this point I guess I need to wait to take a blood test.  My big question: I am sexually active, which is why I am continuing to take the Acyclovir.  Will taking this drug affect the outcome of a blood test in the future in any way?

[world78]

Good news man, stoping Acyclovir unless u have other recurrance.

[gracefromHHP]

yes you continuing to stay on acyclovir suppressively can affect your future blood testing which is why I recommended stopping it. should you get new symptoms while off of it, be seen promptly for repeat lesion cultures.