Constant Itching, Low Positive IGG, Negative Western Blot. Next Steps?

[bend2020]

Hi Terri,

Back in August I slept with a woman who disclosed to me she has ghsv1. Two weeks later I began experiencing itching all over my body (neck, elbows, chest, lower legs ect…) but particularly intense on my butt and inner thighs. After further discussion with the woman I slept with she said she actually wasn’t sure if she had hsv 1 or 2.

I went to the doctor to discuss the itching, she thought it was anxiety and told me to come back if I developed a rash or the itching didn’t resolve. Within a week or two the itching resolved and I never developed a rash.

In late November the itching came back, this time more intense. Still all over my body but particularly intense on the butt and also my eyes. I got an IGG test which came back 1.16 for HSV 2 and 7.34 for HSV 1. I then got a western blot that came back negative for both HSV 1 and 2. While waiting for the western blot results I did a 10 day course of valtrex (1000mg twice daily) which had no effect on the itching. I still have had no clear visible symptoms despite checking often. At one point I had some barley noticeable redness on my penis that lasted about 12 hours. I have been constantly itchy for about a month and a half at this point.

I am now unsure about my status. Should I get more testing done? Is this type of persistent itch without a rash indicative of HSV? Are there other STI’s that could cause this type of itch? Thanks

[Terri Warren]

Your type of itching is NOT indicative of herpes, no. I’m glad you got the western blot to know that you do not have HSV 2. 10 days of Valtrex would not impact your western blot results, no. I am assuming you’ve been evaluated for scabies? Also, it could be something fungal. Herpes infections, either oral or genital, do not induce full-body itching

Terri

[bend2020]

Thanks Terri. I have not been evaluated for scabies or fungal infection. I will see the doctor again soon to follow up on these possibilities. My Doctor thought that my itchiness was most likely related to me anxiety about possibly being HSV 2 positive. I do have a previous history of stress related itching, although it manifested quite differently then.

When a follow up Western Blot is negative after a positive IGG do you typically do more testing to confirm? Or should I trust the Western Blot as it is more accurate?

[Terri Warren]

That’s possible also.
And I definitely do believe the western blot – no need to do any further confirmation after that is negative IF the person has waited 12 weeks from a concerning encounter to test AND has not taken an extended course of antivirals.

Terri

[bend2020]

Hi Terri,

I have been trying to move on from this but one thing keeps nagging at me. I find it odd that my initial IGG HSV-1 value of 7.34 was contradicted with a negative HSV-1 western blot result. Based on what I have read a 7.34 IGG value should be reliable… I don’t have a history of oral herpes outbreaks, but would not at all be surprised if I was positive and asymptomatic. Do my contradictory HSV-1 results raise any doubts about the validity of me Western Blot HSV-2 result?

Recap of my test results.

1st Test IGG
HSV-1: 7.34
HSV-2: 1.16

2nd Test – Western Blot
HSV-1: Negative
HSV-2: Negative

My skin is still itchy and sensitive all over my body, but especially in the butt/groin/thighs. I have had blood work and other STI tests done, everything came back normal.

[Terri Warren]

Did you do the blot through me? If yes, I can ask for it to be re-read. However, I don’t know why, but I’m seeing more and more false positive on the IgG test for HSV 1. Do you have the actual copy of the western blot results from the University of Washington?
I have no reason to believe that the discrepancy with the HSV 1 issue should cause you not to trust the blot.

Terri

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Terri Warren.

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