Herpes from masturbation

[alan2010]

I visited a massage parlour and at the end received a hand job with some lotion or oil. Later she cleaned me with some towel; I am not sure if it was clean or dirty.  Seven days after the visit, I developed redness on my penis shaft on one side with four to five minute red dots. No pain or itchiness or fever. I went to GP and he prescribed me acyclovir for 5 days three times a day and told that it could be first herpes attack.

I want to know if it is possible to get herpes only by hand job or sharing dirty towel. As far as I know, herpes is spread by oral anal or vaginal sex only. I have a small child and can I pass the disease to him. I am worried. Please help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I have not had the chance to examine you but it is most doubtful that what you have seen was HSV.  Despite the urban myths that suggest that this is possible. HSV is not spread by used towels. The virus does not survive well outside of the body and is not transferred on inanimate objects.  As for as a result of masturbation, again most unlikely.  Occasionally persons can get herpes infections on their hands and fingers called "herpetic whitlows" which can be a source of infection for others through direct contact.  If your masseuse had a whitlow, you should have seen a lesion on her hand.  In our combined nearly 70 years of practice focused on STDs and STD diagnosis, neither Dr. Handsfield or I have EVER seen a patient who acquired genital herpes through hand to genital contact.  I doubt that you will be the first.  

It is far more likely that what you describe is some other process, perhaps folliculitis, a reaction to lotion used during the masturbation, or some other dermatological process.

Evaluation of this lesion should have included a culture or PCR test of the lesion.  I hope that was done.  If it was not, you may never know what caused it unless it recurs, at which time you should be examined by a knowledgeable clinician and have the lesion tested as soon as possible after it appears.

As far as the "what ifs" of transmission, if the lesion on your penis is HSV, it can only be spread by direct contact.  Your child is not in danger. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Urinary tract infections are not typically associated with rashes of the sort you describe.  If the rash is concnerning to you or progressing, I would seek dermatological evaluation.  EWH

[alan2010]

Dear Dr. Hook,

Greetings. I got my results today. As correctly predicted by you, I got HSV1/2-negative, syphillis-negative, HIV-negative, Candida-negative.

But urine culture shows UTI infection with enterococcus species and presence of blood in urine. I still have red scars on penis without discharge/pain or burning. Can this type of UTI infection cause of my red scars on penis or it is some dermatological condition and I need to visit dermatologist.

Dr has precribed two tablets of Curam 625 mg twice for one week. Your feedback on my condition will be greatly appreciated.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to hear this.  I am confident that you do not have HSV and look forward to hearing your test results.  EWH

[alan2010]

Dear Dr. Hook,

Thanks for your expert analysis and I was quite relieved to read your detailed explanation. I went to a reputed STD clinic today and the doctor attending me suspected a fungal infection but to be sure he decided to test the whole STD panel and took my blood and urine. I will post all the results when they are back early next week and hope that I am not the first unlucky one!