Worried

I am a 16 year-old. About six weeks ago I found a large(half-inch)sore on the shaft of my penis, about two-thirds of the way up. It was blood red in color like a pimple but without a black head or hole. It was extremely hard but painless and did not burst when squeezed. It took 4-5 weeks to begin to go away. Now I find out that a sore like this one is like the primary chancre of syphilis and I am worried sick. I have had no sexual activity of any kind but did (stupidly) use another kids towel after he used it in the gym shower one day. Can syphilis be spread this way? And what could this thing have been?

Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You  can't catch syphilis or any other STD from sharing an infected person's towel.  If you have had neither genital intercourse nor oral sex, you can be confident that the problem is not syphilis or any other STD.  Perhaps you just had folliculitis (pimple) of the penis; it happens.  But if in doubt, see a health care provider.

Good luck--  HHH, MD