Herpatic Whitlow and Potential exposure

[Horrified1234]

I am mortified, embarrassed and scared about something that happened a few days ago and would like you input. I was diagnosed with Herpatic Whitlow in the early 1990’s in my index finger. Since then I have also had a couple of genital OB’s , though it was never typed, I am assuming it is HSV2. I rarely have OB’s on either my finger or genital area.

A few days ago I was drinking late night with some collegues and was convinced to go back to a women’s room whom I work with occasionally. We kissed, fondled and we each gave the other oral very briefly. I also exposed her vagina to my finger that has been dig nosed with herpatic Whitlow. We did not have intercourse because I was very concerned about HSV transfer. At the time this occurred, there were no lesions or any indication of predome. Once I woke the next day I began to freak out and read everything on HSV that I could find and was horrified to find out about virus shedding and that you could be contgious even without symptoms.

My questions are:
1) Does herpatic witlow in a finger shed virus when no sores or symptoms present? I read two articles that said that it will not due to the thickness of the skin on the finger and because it is not a membrane.
2) she did touch my genital are as well as briefly give me oral and am now convinced that I exposed her even though I had no symptoms and that virus shedding which I did not know could happen will likely transfer the disease.
Thank you for answering my questions, I am absolutely heartbroken and saddened about this and am desperately trying to figure out if she is in eminent risk.

[Terri Warren]

Herpes does not shed from the finger – it is too thick so you can take that off the list. If you do have genital HSV 2, you don’t put your partner at risk by giving her oral sex, and her giving you oral sex is also low risk, but not zero risk. I think the experience you had with her is really low risk.
Touching your genitals would not put her at risk.

Terri

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