zoster

[bryan999]

I'm a 36 year old male. About five days ago I noticed a single small red bump on my upper right thigh.  It was somewhat itchy.  Then about three days later the area developed into a rash with several red bumps.  The bumps aren't really clustered together nor are they in a row, they are spread out within the area of the rash about 1/2 to  1/4 of an inch apart.  The area was itchy and somewhat painful if rubbing up against my pants.  Some (maybe 2-3) of the bumps do look like they have formed a very small whitehead; these whiteheads are very small and hard to notice.  

I went to my doctor, he said he thought it was shingles.  He prescribed Valacyclovir.  I had actually put Cortisone on it starting a couple nights ago and this seemed to help a little.  

I have been in a monogamous relationship for several months.  Both my girlfriend and I were tested for STD's about 3 months ago - including HSV IGG test - and were clear.  I did have a sexual encounter outside the relationship about 5 weeks ago that was unprotected vaginal sex and was very brief, about one minute.  I got tested right after this and was clear.

I am certain my girlfriend was faithful, and as we were both tested 3 months ago, I assume there is no risk of HSV transmission there?  Also, the exposure five weeks ago seems low risk given that it was one-time, extremely brief, and also I was extremely vigilant as to any changes in my genital region after the exposure and did not see anything.  Given the lesions appeared almost five weeks after the exposure, I assume I can rule out this as possible HSV transmission? Overall, at this point it seems very mild, whatever it is - there is not that much pain or itching and the lesions haven't presented themselves as blisters -except for a very minuscule white head on one.  

So, is there any risk that the rash/lesions were misdiagnosed as Shingles but it is really HSV?

[Life360_Dave]

One more thing about shingles. If you never had chicken pox as a child then this rash cant be shingles and shingles is only contagious to those that have never had chicken pox. Shingles is an eruption of the chicken pox virus. This is not considered an STD but forms from childhood contraction from an infected person.

[Life360_Dave]

we dont know at this point what your rash is. Only a new test at 3 months would determine if you now have herpes. If we go outside this theory then we are only spectulating and speculating only has value if your concerned about passing something to a regular partner. So if you feel you may have contracted it dont get intimate with her.
With all chances of acquiring any std, testing is only recommended if you have symptoms OR if you have a regular partner.

[bryan999]

However, wouldn't it be unlikely that an initial HSV outbreak would happen 5 weeks after the encounter?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, since you had unprotected sex outside the relationship, youll need to get tested 3 months post exposure to be conclusive, 5 weeks is to soon.
You can have a PCR from scrapings to determine if this is zoster. From what ive read breakouts do have a distinctive stripe pattern that can be visually diagnosed but testing is the best determination.