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Herpes Concern
Doctor,
After an exposure 9 weeks ago in mexico with a girl of unknown background (not a prostitute however) I have had the following symptoms: About 6 days later I began to have a slight scrotum rash which was accompanied by groin pain. Since then I have been experiencing varying degrees of irratating red rashes on my scrotum and also a high degree of shooting pain in my right leg. The skin on my scrotom appears scaley and red but never seems to progress into anything that I could make out as sores. It did not go away with any fungal creams. I was examined several times at which doctors could not definitively say what the rash was or explain my extreme leg pain. I was tested at two weeks neg for HSV1 and 2 with the pos Igm (which I know is worthless)
At 7 weeks 4 days I again tested negative for both HSV1 and HSV 2.
Questions:
Does this sound like a latent HSV2 infection?
Is the 7 week 4 day test at all reassuring that I may not have HSV 2?
Thanks so much for your time,
dooz22
After an exposure 9 weeks ago in mexico with a girl of unknown background (not a prostitute however) I have had the following symptoms: About 6 days later I began to have a slight scrotum rash which was accompanied by groin pain. Since then I have been experiencing varying degrees of irratating red rashes on my scrotum and also a high degree of shooting pain in my right leg. The skin on my scrotom appears scaley and red but never seems to progress into anything that I could make out as sores. It did not go away with any fungal creams. I was examined several times at which doctors could not definitively say what the rash was or explain my extreme leg pain. I was tested at two weeks neg for HSV1 and 2 with the pos Igm (which I know is worthless)
At 7 weeks 4 days I again tested negative for both HSV1 and HSV 2.
Questions:
Does this sound like a latent HSV2 infection?
Is the 7 week 4 day test at all reassuring that I may not have HSV 2?
Thanks so much for your time,
dooz22
A related discussion, Herpes Concern was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, it is not an indicator of herpes. While many people worry about neuropathies (nerve pain) due to herpes, it simply does not occur. Neither Dr, Handsfield nor I have ever seen a case in which herpes caused leg pain. EWH
Dr.Hook,
Thank you very much for your response. I have one last question. Do you think a high level of unexplained leg pain after a sexual encounter is an indicator of herpes? I say this because it seems to be the only std that could cause such.
thanks
Thank you very much for your response. I have one last question. Do you think a high level of unexplained leg pain after a sexual encounter is an indicator of herpes? I say this because it seems to be the only std that could cause such.
thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The chances that this is herpes are small. I say this because:
1. You don't know if your partner had HSV. Even if she did, most exposures do not lead to infections
2. The location (on your scrotum) is an uncommon place for HSV. Most HSV occurs on the penis itself.
3. If it were HSV, it would not have persisted as it sounds as though your area of irritation has. HSV outbreaks rarely last longer than 2-3 weeks for initial episodes and less than a week for recurrences.
4. Your blood tests are negative. While it can take as long as 3-6 months to develop a positive antibody tests, most tests are positive by now (7 weeks) and, when considered with all of the other evidence against this being herpes, it makes the possibility that you will sero-convert later very small.
I cannot tie your leg pain to the rash. It may be unrelated.
What this sounds like to me is some sort of fungal infection, not an STD. You might discuss this with your health care provider. EWH
1. You don't know if your partner had HSV. Even if she did, most exposures do not lead to infections
2. The location (on your scrotum) is an uncommon place for HSV. Most HSV occurs on the penis itself.
3. If it were HSV, it would not have persisted as it sounds as though your area of irritation has. HSV outbreaks rarely last longer than 2-3 weeks for initial episodes and less than a week for recurrences.
4. Your blood tests are negative. While it can take as long as 3-6 months to develop a positive antibody tests, most tests are positive by now (7 weeks) and, when considered with all of the other evidence against this being herpes, it makes the possibility that you will sero-convert later very small.
I cannot tie your leg pain to the rash. It may be unrelated.
What this sounds like to me is some sort of fungal infection, not an STD. You might discuss this with your health care provider. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
