Occurance of symptoms

[clairifyfacts]

Dr. Hansfield, thanks for all you do here to address people's concerns.

I posted 6 months ago about concerns over a brief encounter with a sex worker, where there was protected vaganial sex and unprotected oral.  I was tested 2 weeks after exposure and all tests came back negative.  My HSV 2 was a .25 IGG.  

I have not really been concerned since, I know my risk was low, but possible.  And you response made me feel more relazed about the potential exposure.

About 2 weeks ago, I started some genital itching (I frequently have had this all my life), but this seemed more pronounced.  I also had a precived itching inside my penis - but that could have been in my head.

A couple of days later, 2 things occured.

1) wearing what I precieve to be tight pants, I rubbed a 'raw place' at the base of my scrotum.  

2) during mastrabation, I rubbed a raw place on my penis (this also has happened before - when I know I was negative for any STD).  

These raw places were gone in about 3 or 4 days.  There was no scabbing on my penis, but small scabbing on the base of my scrotum.

Additionally, I had headaches and ear ringing for 2 days prior to the onset of the itching, and have since been treated for an ear infection.  I also had a low-grade fever during this period.

Now, I am concerned about what I see as a small pin-head type pimple on my penis where the raw place was about 8 days ago.  I goes away when examined and is not sore.

I have had no additional incidents of exposure since the previous incident 2 months ago.

With all the information available about Herpes symptoms, I don't know what to expect or when to expect it.  As you are aware, the range of symptoms is almost everything including flu-like symptoms, and the timing of all this stuff has made me nervious and uncomfortable.

So with that background, I have 2 questions:
1) does this sound like HSV 2 to you?
2) should I be retested?

Thank you again for the service you provide.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your sympomts don't sound at all like herpes, and of course you could not have acquired genital HSV-2 in the past 6 months unless you had sex with an infected person; and your testing showed you didn't catch it during the event several months ago.  (And that was about zero risk anyway.)  So whatever is going on isn't herpes.  You do not need retsting.  As to the actual cause of your symptoms, I cannot say; see a health care provider if they persist and you are concerned.  But forget herpes.

HHH, MD

[clairifyfacts]

I will make sure, that you are not concerned by the quick (2 week) test after the incident 6 months ago?

Again, I want to say thank you Dr. H.  I appreciate your candor and service.

Best wishes.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I misunderstood the timing of your HSV antibody test.  Two weeks is too soon.  Based on your symptoms, there is no reason to be concerned about herpes as the cause.  But if you want still further reassurance, you could be retested.

HHH, MD