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Question: Hello im a male and my question is related to oral herpes. I've had multiple partners over the course of the last few years. About 2 years ago, after having performed oral sex on one of my girlfriends, my lips started tingling immediately, my immediate reaction was that I might have contracted oral herpes. I'm not certain if my partner had the virus or not. In any case, the tingling sensation lasted for a month or 2 and then it stopped, I never, never got any sores, blisters, etc. Till this date I get the tingling on and off sporadically and i just don't know what's going on. Is this bacterial? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
not bacterial
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
If it were a bacterial infection it would not come and go. With a bacterial infection you would have swelling and probably fever. Herpes is usually painful and causes blisters. The tingling that comes and goes sounds like herpes but with no rash it is unlikely. Also the incubation period for herpes is 2-7 days so you would not get symptoms right away after this exposure. The only thing I can think of that may cause an immediate reaction would be some sort of vaginal cream or treatment that you may have been exposed to that could have caused an immediate reaction. I can not explain the recurrent symptoms. You can get blood tests to see if you are a herpes carrier or not and that may be a good idea in your case.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
not bacterial
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
If it were a bacterial infection it would not come and go. With a bacterial infection you would have swelling and probably fever. Herpes is usually painful and causes blisters. The tingling that comes and goes sounds like herpes but with no rash it is unlikely. Also the incubation period for herpes is 2-7 days so you would not get symptoms right away after this exposure. The only thing I can think of that may cause an immediate reaction would be some sort of vaginal cream or treatment that you may have been exposed to that could have caused an immediate reaction. I can not explain the recurrent symptoms. You can get blood tests to see if you are a herpes carrier or not and that may be a good idea in your case.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thanks for answering that. My next step is to carry out a blood test. In the event there is nothing found, what sort of specialist would i consult thereafter? Dermatologist? Do i ask for a culture test? What would you recommend after the blood test? once again, thanks for your time
Brief Answer:
blood test then dermatologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for the follow up.
Yes ask for a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2 just to make sure that you have not been exposed to oral (HSV-1) or genital (HSV-2) herpes. It is a blood test for serum markers. You can't do a culture unless you have blisters, then you can culture the fluid. I think a dermatologist is a good next step to see if there is something causing the recurrent tingling sensation.
I hope you figure out the cause soon.
Dr. Robinson
blood test then dermatologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for the follow up.
Yes ask for a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2 just to make sure that you have not been exposed to oral (HSV-1) or genital (HSV-2) herpes. It is a blood test for serum markers. You can't do a culture unless you have blisters, then you can culture the fluid. I think a dermatologist is a good next step to see if there is something causing the recurrent tingling sensation.
I hope you figure out the cause soon.
Dr. Robinson
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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