Dear Terri. Thanks for your help yesterday.  Sorry for te over posting just wanted to make sure I was clear. I have a few follow up questions. In your first post you said not to worry unless the rash returns. What changed that made you recommend a test? Also in the first post you said that this activity (genital rubbing, and genital to anus rubbing) where not a risk of hsv-2. Correct?  Let me say that I have NEVER engaged in unprotected intercourse,  anal or vaginal,  even for a second, except with a long time girl friend many years ago.  I have never had any lesion or blisters on my penis or in this area. Since you indicated that my main risk is of hsv-1, could this show up in this manner as a reaccuring symptom of hsv-1? Also you indicated that in your thirty plus years of cases you have only seen this placement of the rash a handful of times. In those cases had the patient had symptoms prior in the genital area? And where any of these cases do to hsv-1? What are my risks of hsv-2 with use of a condom?   

When people seem to accept that something is unlikely to be herpes pretty easily and the risk seems low, I may or may not recommend testing.  But in this case, you seemed to still be a bit worried and testing often helps to put someone's mind at rest. 
Condoms reduce transmission, depending upon the study you read, 30-50%, sometimes more.  The problem with condoms is that parts of your body vulnerable to herpes aren't always covered by a condom or condoms slip or break.  They are certainly better than no condom but they aren't perfect. 
If you had either HSV 1 or HSV 2, it is possible that it would manifest in this way, just really unlikely. 
In the previous cases where I have seen rashes on the back of the knee or on the ankle or the foot, sometimes there have been genital lesions and sometimes not.  I'm just dealing with a woman who has only outbreaks on her ankle that were finally diagnosed by PCR as HSV 2.  She had had no outbreaks genitally.  I honestly don't know if any of these cases where HSV 1
I honestly think the chances are quite slight that this was due to herpes but I can't say no for certain.

Terri
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Thanks Terri,

I'm not sure what you mean by that first sentence, perhaps you can clarify.  If you're like me sometimes your brain moves faster than your keyboard!
No, even if you had brand new herpes, it wouldn't show up that fast.  So Correct. 
I wouldn't describe receiving oral sex as risky but I would say it is not risk free.  Most of the HSV 1 genital infections that I see in our clinic are mouth to genital transmission.  It is unusual to acquire other STI's from oral sex. 
If the knee thing IS herpes, which I doubt, it could be present from an infection years ago, no way to know

Terri
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Thanks,

If Benadryl make it better, then it is likely not herpes.  Benadryl has no impact at all on herpes.  Usually yes herpes has blisters or ulcers.  Six or seven inches across?  Wow, you need someone to look at that, that's pretty big
Terri
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BTW the welt is gone

I'm so glad.  Now that REALLY sounded nothing like herpes to me, Gregory

Terri
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