Shingles vs HSV2 ?

[Shingles144]

Noticed intense itching on my side just above my hip. A few days later presented with a classic band of what appear to be shingles. The rash is only on one side of the body and is a belt shape. Exact location where all the literature shows shingles.
My concern is around the same time I also experienced intense itching in the genital area. 3 to 4 bumps appeared on the penis at the same as the rash on my side.

The rash on my side is large. At least 10 inches across. Rash in genital area small and barely noticeable.
I have never had any previous breakouts. No HSV type symptoms ever. I have had chickenpox.

-Could I have spread the shingles on my side by scratching and then touching genital area?
-Is it possible for shingles to also be on the penis?
-What are the chances this is HSV2 on genitals, and shingles on my side – can both occur viruses at once?
-Could this be HSV2 on my side and not shingles? Can gentian herpes be on the body.

I did see a dermatologist who said Shingles. He felt the bumps on penis were also shingles. No blood work or tests were done. I am looking for your opinion after reading about so many people being incorrectly diagnosed.

[Shingles144]

Saw my primary doctor today. He confirmed what the dermatologist said – the rash on my side is shingles.
He disagreed with the dermatologist that the rash on my penis was related. Says completely separate issues.
Primary doc also said the itchy bumps on penis are not herpes. He says jock itch or some fungal infection.
Is the derm wrong? Is the primary doc wrong?
Can shingles be on my side and groin?
I find it very hard to believe that 2 unrelated rashes appeared at the exact same time!!
Jock itch on the penis?

[Shingles144]

“People with herpes zoster most commonly have a rash in one or two adjacent dermatomes (localized zoster). The rash most commonly appears on the trunk along a thoracic dermatome. The rash does not usually cross the body’s midline. However, approximately 20% of people have rash that overlaps adjacent dermatomes.”

Would seem logical that shingles could be on my side and groin (L5/S2 overlapping dermatomes)

Any thoughts?

[Terri Warren]

This does sound like shingles and the penis is in the same or very near dermatome and the penis can be involved in shingles. How old are you? No tetsing was done of the rash? it is easy to do a PCR of the rash and get an accurate distinction between VZV (varicalla zoster) and HSV (herpes simplex virus) and that could probably still be done if you are concerned. The fact that the rash does not cross the midline of your body is very important. With new herpes, one would see lesions bilaterally most often. Have you had any herpes testing done at any time?

Terri

[Shingles144]

-I am 34 years old.

-The rash does not cross the midline. Even on the penis the 3 marks are on the same side – with one exception.
There is one mark on the top of the penis on the opposite side. But isn’t the top of the penis the midline itself?

-No testing was done. Based on what I have read the tests seem to be inaccurate at times. There was a story of a young single woman telling potential boyfriends she had herpes when in fact she did not!!
No previous herpes testing I am aware of.

-the doctor ordered blood work – looks to be a “comprehensive” blood test. Not sure exactly what that entails? Will the blood work confirm what this is?

– the entire rash seems more like hives. Itches but no pain. Raised bumps that swell if scratched, but no “lesions”
They are not “sores” which is why the primary doc said not herpes and called it jock itch

I am taking valtrex 3 pills a day for 7 days and using triamcinolone acetonide .1% ointment.

-any additional thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks !!!

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Shingles144.

[Terri Warren]

There is no problem with the PCR swab test for varicella zoster virus and since there were also lesion on your penis, that is a test that we would have done on this rash but clinicians vary in their practice. And it does sound like this was a pretty classic shingles presentation though you are on the young end for this infection. The top of the penis is on the midline, yes. Hard to know what to make of that alone, but that isn’t the only thing going on here.

The herpes blood testing does have a problem with test results in the low positive range. But we can almost always clarify that with another confirmatory test. But again in this case, that may not be necessary, given the clinical presentation of pretty classic shingles.

Terri

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