About 2 weeks ago I developed a rash on both sides of my scrotum. I didn't think much of it at the time but eventually the rash developed into sores. The best way I can describe the sores is they looked like canker sores. I did some research on Herpes and the sores did not look like any of the images I saw, however I did have swollen glands and headaches so I decided to get tested anyways....
The doctor asked if the sores were ever "water blisters," which they were not. He concluded the sores were not herpes because herpes causes water blisters. He prescribed me augmentin and said it was simply and infection. Just in case, he took a culture (oh man, that was insanely painful) and they drained a good portion of my blood for a slew of tests.
So...i recently found out a girl I had a sexual encounter with, about 3 weeks before the symptoms, has herpes type 2\. I always use condoms but herpes can be transmitted by skin contact so this was not exactly good news. Well, today I recieved the test results...and I am more confused. It looks like all the other STD results are neg. Then the "wound culture report" shows heavy growth of Staphylococcus Aureus, Beta Hemolytic Strep B, Diptheroids, and moderate growth of Staphylococcus Coagulase Neg.
Wouldn't they have discovered Herpes here if I had it?
Then there were the Herpes tests. HSV Type 1/2 IGM ABS says "not detected." HSV 1 IGG ABS showed
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Type 2 Herpes
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It sounds like your skin issue was caused by a polymicrobial bacterial infection. You have quite a variety there...most or all of them are found on the skin of a healthy person, but in relatively small numbers. Did they give you any antibiotics, or did it get better on its own?> Wouldn't they have discovered Herpes here if I had it?It appears that they separate out the bacterial test results from the herpes virus test results.> How can the tests results differ?HSV 1 and HSV 2 are two different types of herpes simplex viruses. Type 1 is the oral kind, and type 2 is the genital kind. But you can get cross-infections, generally through oral sex. It sounds like you may have a herpes type 2 (HSV 2) infection.
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Thank you very much for the help. I am really glad I found this forum. The only thing the prescribed was the "augmentin." The sores have almost healed up and I just took my last pill today. I never had any oral sex with the girl that I now know is infected. It was just regular sex with a condom and it only happened once.My main concern is I am uncertain about having HSV type 2. I don't quite understand the accuracy of the tests used other than they are supposed to be one of the best available. Also, I read somewhere that accuracy is also dependent on the timing of the infection, however, I do not understand if this timing is based on the first day of infection or first sign of symptoms.
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I never had any oral sex with the girl that I now know is infected. It was just regular sexThat makes sense, since you seem to be negative for HSV 1 (the oral type), and you didn't say anything about herpes sores around your (or her) mouth.> I read somewhere that accuracy is also dependent on the timing of the infectionExactly. It is easier to detect when you are showing symptoms (and not when you first contract it). You should get checked again in the future, especially if you have an outbreak.> AugmentinMy bad. You did mention that in your first post. It is a type of penicillin, good against a variety of bacteria. Has your skin cleared up?
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My skin has just about cleared up. I think maybe I've been misunderstanding what you orginially said. Does it look like my infection/sores were caused by something other than hsv type 2 and then there is a possibility that I migh have hsv type 2? -or- Are you saying that the sores were hsv type 2 related and jst got infected with the other bacteria?
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Either is possible, but (total guess) it sounds like your first scenario is more likely: just a bacterial infection. If you had a herpes outbreak, you'd probably feel a fair amount of pain and discomfort.But it's a moot point. You did have a bacterial infection that was cleared by an antibiotic. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Whether you're infected with HSV 2 is still an open question, so you should get tested for it again in the future, especially if you suspect you're having a herpes outbreak.
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I just looked at the test results again and realized i left another doctor's note out that might be a bit more insightful. "no sign of active herpes"Would this pretty much mean that my current infection has nothing to do with herpes?
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Sure sounds like it.