Red Bumps in Pubic Area, Scrotum Stings

[HELPME98]

Hello Doctor,

I am a 22 yo Male who, 7 weeks and 4 days ago had a condom protected encounter with a colombian prostitute in a brothel in Spain.  I regret this very much.  Doctor Hook has reassured me I am not at risk for HIV and although I still have a chest rash and constant night sweats, and had a severe sore throat.  I am coming to believe his reassurances.  I tested with a DUO at 25 days, negative, and again at 41 days and 48 days with regular antibody tests.  Yet, yesterday I ordered a PCR for peace of mind.  At the 48 day mark I tested for syphilis, hepatitis, herpes, chlamidia, gohneria, and HSV.  All of these came back negative except for HSV 1, which I understand is cold sores, which I've had my whole life anyways.

My question is this.  3 days post exposure I got quite sick.  I broke out in a rash all over my legs.  This moved to my genitals where it remained.  That was diagnosed as jock itch and folliculitus.  However, I've also had several red bumps in my pubic area which did not go away after treating those two conditions.  They have also spread throughout the area.  They do not appear to be molluscum.  Also my scrotum has been stinging on and off since my encounter.  From 3 days to about 3 weeks post encounter, I had a series of small white pimples around the scrotum which have since resided.  My history is such:  I had molluscum two years ago (old news) and I have a UTI last october which was treated.  Does this sound like any STD or sexually transmittable skin condition?  And were this a skin virus such as mulluscum, would it bring over HIV with it and increase my risk?  Also, Dr Hook did not answer whether my previous history of molluscum increased my risk, as the treatment left the area heavily scarred.  Thank you I appreciate your feedback on the matter.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. that's what we're here for.  No need to donate, just take care of yourself going forward.

I am confident that your PCR test will  be negative.  EWH

[HELPME98]

Dr. Hook,

I've received the PCR results, NEGATIVE!  What a relief!  Thank you for all of your help, it was very useful in my time of trouble and need.

Best Regards
ESR

[HELPME98]

Thanks again Doctor Hook, just wanted to cover all of my bases, and make sure the bumps weren't any sort of STI.  Most of the other symptoms I described in my last post seem to have gone away (the chest rash, and sore throat) and the night sweats have reduced in intensity, which leads me to believe it was the Doxycycline mixed with good old anxiety.  As I said, just wanted to cover all of my bases.  The lymph node question was mere curiosity, as I didn't even know what a lymph node was until this entire fiasco, physicians have told me they aren't swollen, which leads me to believe the pains were anxiety related as well.

Again, thank you Dr Hook, I'm sure you get tired of worried wells such as myself.  As I said, I just wanted to cover all bases, I'm going back to see the dermatologist some time this week concerning the bumps.  I'm also seeing a therapist over the anxiety, which alienated me from all around me.

I'll post up the results from the PCR in the original HIV Prevention Forum post, I am praying they are negative, but I believe your reassurances that they will be.  Again, thank you for your answers, they are greatly appreciated.  I just look to put this whole unfortunate situation behind me so I may propose to my girl friend and not worry about STDs ever again.  Thanks again Doctor!!!!  Also, just as I've been a particular bother to you, and am greatly appreciative for your help, is there any way one may make a donation to your practice?  Or any particular charity which you support or are associated with?  I really cannot express my sincere gratitude to you, and I do understand I have been quite a pain.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sometimes, if they are markedly enlarged, persons can detect their own lymph node swelling but more often, and particularly to detect the generalized lymph node swelling of HIV that you are so fixated on, a health care provider should make the assessment.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are still plagued by anxiety at a time when you have negative diagnostic tests, not only for HIV but for other STDs, including syphilis.  The symptoms you describe are not suggestive of any STD. While syphilis can cause a skin rash of the sort you describe, when a rash of syphilis is present, the blood test for syphilis is also virtually always reactive.  Yours was negative.  The residual red bumps may be slowly residing folliculitis or some other dermatological problem bu thtey do not suggest an STD of any sort.

As for your fixation on molluscum, which your rash is not (molluscum would not have appeared so quickly following exposure and the lesions you describe do not sound like molluscum), that would not have changed your risk for HIV which, I repeat, you do not have.

My advice is to get over your inappropriate concern that you got HIV from the encounter you described.  No amount of further testing will show that you have HIV.  As for your skin rash, go see a dermatologist.  EWH

[HELPME98]

One more trivial sort of question I left out of my original post was if one's lymph nodes are indeed swollen, would one be able to tell?  I ask out of curiosity as the areas where lymph nodes are prominent (neck, auxiliaries, and groin) have had sharp pains for the last several weeks, but to the best of my knowledge, haven't been swollen (I'll find a few veins after poking around, which I think leads them to be swollen, but no lumps or any such thing).  This question is more for curiosity's sake.

Also, I know I get two questions every few months, and as I asked on the HIV prevention forum last week, I am aware this is my last question for a while.  Thanks.