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Warty in Iraq
I'm currently deployed just outside of Baghdad, Iraq. Three days ago I noticed a small 'bump' located roughly two inches above my penis, just inside the pubic region. I assumed it was an igrown hair, so I assaulted it to get the hair out, to no result. The following day I woke to see that it had multiplied in size, it was now the size of a grape and itched like crazy. I didn't scratch it, I knew that wouldn't help matters any. I didn't notice any difference that night, but on the following morning it had a new growth just beside it and another above it. They were both wart-like in appearance, one with 3 in a group and the other with 5 circling 1 and they were all red, inflammed, and itchy. I consulted the medic at the Aide Station (never a good idea). She said that it looked 'Herpetic'. She gave me a prescription to Valtrex. I informed her that I haven't been sexually active and that my wife has low-risk, non-warty (so far) HPV. I was wondering if you could shed some light on this for me. I'm out here with poor health care and no way of getting tested for anything. I'm assumming that it's HPV, but I have no way of proving that. Any advice, or clues? Thanks.
The immune system is responsible for keeping an hpv infection in check and preventing symptoms from occurring. It apparently has nothing to do with the strength of the individual strain and is all dependent on each individual's immune system so yes, it is perfectly normal for a strain of hpv to cause no symptoms in one person while causing warts in that person's partner. Another possibility is that the strain may have been dormant in your system and if your immune system becomes somewhat compromised by lack of sleep, malnutrition, stress, tobacco or alcohol use etc. the strain may reactivate and come out of dormancy in your body.
Fyi ALL warts are caused by the hpv virus. However, not all strains of hpv are sexually transmitted (i.e. the strains that cause warts on hands/feet etc.).
Here are some facts regarding genital warts that may help you identify or rule out since you are in the position that you can not get adequate medical attention-
Genital warts are usually flesh-colored, and are generally softer and smoother than the warts found on hands/feet. They can occur singularly or in a group or cluster. They can not be popped as there is nothing inside but skin. They may be flat, raised, or they may appear as skin tags. In the vast majority of people they do not itch or cause any pain. They do not sting or burn.
Hope it helps! :)
Fyi ALL warts are caused by the hpv virus. However, not all strains of hpv are sexually transmitted (i.e. the strains that cause warts on hands/feet etc.).
Here are some facts regarding genital warts that may help you identify or rule out since you are in the position that you can not get adequate medical attention-
Genital warts are usually flesh-colored, and are generally softer and smoother than the warts found on hands/feet. They can occur singularly or in a group or cluster. They can not be popped as there is nothing inside but skin. They may be flat, raised, or they may appear as skin tags. In the vast majority of people they do not itch or cause any pain. They do not sting or burn.
Hope it helps! :)
And no to the cultures....if you aren't seriously wounded...your screwed. I only got a medical screening because I'm about to redeploy (go home).84 more days and this tour is over...at least something is going good!
The warty 'clusters' make me think that it's not an infected or ingrown hair. My wife has HPV, but has never seen anything from it. I understand that's normal, my biggest question is...If it's never reacted with her, could it react with me? I know that there isn't really any testing available for men, so it's kind of a guessing game on whether they are just everyday warts or as to whether it's GW. Army health care is a joke. No tests, no referrals, just throw some drugs at it and hope. I researched Valtrex immediately and realized that it has no correlation to HPV. I was clean before I got married, and my wife only had HPV, but had never had an outbreak or any symptoms. I'll probably just have to wait 3 months till I can go back to Germany (and decent healthcare) to get a test to rule out HSV. Thanks for responding.
Btw, are you at least able to have a culture taken to actually TEST for hsv (herpes) instead of having someone tell you that it "looks" herpetic?
Hi there, you have been given medication for herpes (hsv), not warts (hpv). There are low-risk and high-risk strains of hpv. Low risk strains of hpv may cause genital warts but usually don't. High risk strains of hpv may cause abnormal cervical cells that may lead to cancer but usually don't. It all depends on the immune system to battle the virus. This will determine if an individual actually experiences symptoms caused by hpv. Are you absolutely positive it is not folliculitis? If you have infected hair follicles, an antibiotic may be needed.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
