Do I have herpes or thrush or something else?

[davemire]

I had an unprotected sex with a girl on saturday night (5 days ago). Since then I have had some dry skin on my foreskin and a slight rash on my penile shaft. The rash looks like a heat rash I've had on my chest before (bit like athletes foot) but it's starting to peel slightly. It doesn't burn or even really itch a lot, just slightly the odd time.

I also have swollen glands and I woke today with a layer of green mucus on my tongue! I have an appointment for the doctors on monday but I'm panicking that it could be herpes.

Thanks

Dave

[Caryopteris]

You can get herpes from contact with your mouth, but you could get it from a person's mouth or genitals.  There is herpes simplex type I and type II.  Type I is what we call cold sores, and type II is what we call genital herpes, but they are both a herpes simplex virus, and either one can be either place.  Actually you can get it on any skin anywhere, but mucus membranes are less resistant.  (I remember a gynecologist I worked with saying she had herpes on her arm above her glove from delivering a baby from a patient with herpes).  So don't kiss people with cold sores!

[davemire]

I went to my GP this morning and the doctor (not my normal doctor) had a quick look at my penis (and i mean quick), pointed to the rash/red bumps and said 'Oh I see what you mean...'

She then said she doesn't think it is an STD because there is no discharge. I've had an STD before though without any discharge?

She gave me Canestan cream and said 'see how it goes with that but if you get any discharge then go to a GUM clinic'. Although, I'm slightly more at ease because she didn't think it was an STD, I'm still not 100% with this doctor.

I have an appointment with my regular doctor on Monday so I'll bring it up with him to see what he thinks as well.

[davemire]

Thanks for the response. No blisters, just slight peeling and nothing on my lips so I'm hoping it's thrush or a fungal infection (never thought I'd wish for that!).

Naive herpes question: Do you only get blisters around your mouth if you have performed oral sex on somebody with herpes?

Thanks again

[Caryopteris]

The shaft thing sounds like it might be the same fungal infection as athlete's foot.  That, jock itch, yeast infections, dandruff, all are caused by fungi such as Candida.  So get a jock itch or athlete's foot cream (not the spray as it won't be the better ingredient), and put that on as directed.  The swollen glands suggest something else could be going on, not necessarily an STD, but none of it sounds like herpes.  If you get herpes it will be little blisters on your penis or around your lips, usually.  Always shower after sexual activity, even if you were smart enough to wear a condom.  Guys often think it's okay to just wipe off, which is kind of appalling.