HSV 2 for Years, now lip concerns

[overit]

I have been HSV2 positive for 25 years. I confirmed my HSV2 status recently via blood test, as I’ve been experiencing more symptoms than usual and wanted to confirm my HSV (1 or 2) status for better understanding and management. I was told I was positive for HSV2 and negative for HSV1 (though from you site I understand there is a 10% error rate on HSV1 diagnosis). My doctor commented “interestly, you are negative for HSV1”. I bring this up because though infected with HSV2 for 25 years, I am now experiencing lip itching before and during my period. I have never had a cold sore, though my father has them chronically. There appears (from my notes) to be a correlation over the last 6 months with my period and this itching on my bottom lip. There are other explanations, including chapped lips, and due to age; perimenopause. What I am struggling with is whether or not I should be concerned when this lip itching occurs and whether it’s possible that I am shedding HSV (of any type). This itching can last for 12 hours to 48 hours and has no other related symptom. I have a 5 year old son, and I fret daily on transmission to him. I only started putting the pieces together recently when my bottom lip was itching and the following day my top lip had a small fissure. The fissure was tiny and healed within 12 hours. I had been out the previous day on a very windy day, and my lips had been chapped for several days, so I keep telling myself, this is not herpes, just irritated lips. I’ve been following your forum and your answers to others are quite helpful. My conversation with my dermatologist wasn’t overly helpful. She thinks I have an allerigic issue and recommended a steroidal lip balm, and then we can start swab tests if that isnt’ successful. Well…. that doesn’t calm my concern about transmission to my son. I do not kiss him on the lips, ever, but we do cheek kiss and forehead kiss and if my lip is itching – am I putting him at risk ? ps – no visual symptoms on the lip. Itching is on bottom lip, left side, and right but not at the same time and seems to be closer to inner lip, not on the edge at all.

[overit]

I failed to mention that I have been on Valtrex daily 500mg for over 5 years ( most recently) and several years on/off before that. I have been diligent with my suppression therapy for the last 5 years.

[overit]

My dermatologist inferred that it was possible to have herpes like symptoms (lip itching) that did not turn into cold sores if the virus was being suppressed. Still didn’t answer my transmission concerns, though.

[Terri Warren]

Given your symptoms and your concerns about transmission to your son, I think it would be a good idea for you to get a herpes western blot. The herpes Western blot is more sensitive for HSV 1than is the screening test that you took. I think the dermatologist is correct in that it is possible to be infected and have the herpes medicine partially suppress herpes symptoms. If you could determine from Western blot that you did not have HSV !, would this help relieve your concerns about the itching? We do know that the antiviral medicines are slightly more effective against HSV-2 then HSV 1. If you were my patient at my clinic I probably would recommend that you get this test to help clarify the picture or put your mind at rest. If the test is positive for HSV 1 then I think the next step would be to PCR swab the symptoms that you are describing. As you may know, just because you are infected with HSV 1 not everything on your lips necessarily is caused by herpes.

Terri

[Author]

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