Red bump/condom slippage

[lilbrother]

I recently had sex with a person in southeast asia using a condom  It was a bit rough. The dilemma comes when the condom started rising about an inch from my base (as it was in the process of sliding off), as soon as I felt it, we stopped, and I pulled the condom back down to the base.  about 36 hrs later I noticed 7 red bumps, almost all of them with a hair in the middle.  They were oozing clear fluid, but never turned into the blister i see on the internet.  The bumps are in my pubic hair region, with two right at the base of the penis (not on the penis, and not connected), and one on the other side (also at the base), and one on the scrotum. I tried popping them (i know not good..just freaking out), but they were hard, and a little sensitive, and only oozed a little clear liquid. Now its been 5 days, and they look like pimples on my face that have been poked at too much, with some scabbing. I also shaved (with a electric razor) the morning after sex.
My questions:  is this herpes/folliculitus?  
Is it true that herpes develops right at contact (like when my condom rose up for a few seconds), is that why i could have the bumps at the base, where the condom didnt completely cover?
Getting an appointment here is very tough, but looks like i will be seen tomorrow, but in the meantime (really scared), could you please give me your thoughts? thank you for your time, sorry for the long question

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

From both the location of the lesions (pubic area) and description (hair from each lesion, hard bumps) the likelihood strongly favors folliculitis, not herpes. And 36 hours is too soon for herpes; if herpes ever appeared that quickly, it would have only superficial blisters with clear fluid, not the hard bumps you describe.  Most likely it isn't sexually transmitted at all, but if it is, it's most likely your partner is a staph or strep carrier--i.e., not a traditional STD, even if sex was the mechanism of transfer of the bacteria.  This fits with lesions appearing above the condom coverage zone.  Such a bacterial infection also is entirely compatible with recent shaving, which probably caused minor trauma that helped the staph/strep gain a foothold.  

Bottom line:  Follow through with your plan to see a health care provider.  But in the meantime, don't lose a lot of sleep over it; everything points to a bacterial infection and not herpes.  My guess is you will be prescribed an antbiotic cream, or maybe antibiotics by mouth.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[lilbrother]

Thank you for such a quick response doctor. Eases my mind a bit....sorry, but forgot to add that my lymph nodes seem to be swollen...is that normal?
Again, thank you for your service and time...i Promise, no more questions

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Lymph nodes go along with any kind of inflammation.  Entirely consistent with folliculitis.

HHH, MD