Identifying Possible Location of HSV-2

[HealthSeeker]

I want to say thank you so very much for running this forum. Both my husband and I recently took IgG tests that came back positive for HSV-2. We both have experienced different levels of unease and guilt, but seeing how many other people are facing this challenge too through the forum has helped ease the sadness. So, thank you so much for the very extraordinary work you do.

My husband and I have been in a monogamous relationship for the past ten years, but we had never tested for HSV I or II in prior testing panels before our relationship nor had either of us remembered experiencing symptoms. However, in the past, we had each made poor choices in partners before we found each other.

Since neither of us have had outbreaks or know the exact location of where HSV-2 is on our bodies, but I have had a chronic sore throat off and on for the past two years, could I have HSV-2 outbreaks in my throat, and how would I be able to identify where HSV-2 is located on my body – if it is in my throat?

If I do have HSV-2 sores at the back of my throat, (I have only seen white sores one time despite frequent feelings of soreness, but they weren’t cultured when they were visible), is it possible to spread it to others through saliva, or by talking, breathing, sneezing, or coughing?

I have also had an opthamologist say that I had bumps under my eyelids when she examined/flipped under my eyelid, but she thought it was due to allergies, which I suffer from, and also have itchy, frequent red eye, and intermittent styes throughout the year. I didn’t have this test result at the time. How would I know if it’s on my eyes? Also, if it is on my eyes, and I’ve rubbed them because they itch, is it possible to spread them to someone else in my household or family members – especially those who might be immunocompromised, like babies or elderly family members?

Also, is it possible to spread through dirty laundry, towels, and washcloths?

Thank you so so much!

[Terri Warren]

HSV is not spread through laundry, generally speaking. If you have genital HSV 2 and you use a towel or washcloth and you are shedding virus and someone immediately after you uses the exact same towel or washcloth on their genitals, no soap involved, transmission is theoretically possible but so unlikely

What were the values of your IgG test results?

We know that 95% of the time, HSV 2 is genital

YOu would not transmit HSV 2 by rubbing your eyes and touching someone else, no.

HSV 2 is very rarely oral, but if you get the white spots again, you should have them swab tested to see if they are herpes. I would be surprised if they were.

Terri

[HealthSeeker]

Thank you so very much for your compassionate help.

I am most concerned with spreading the virus to family and friends.

I have been using TP as a barrier and wiping down the toilet seat and sink handles with cleaning wipes or soap and water after each use. Is transmission via shared toilets possible and do these sound like reasonable steps to take?

Can the virus shed through clothing and live where I sit – for example, on the couch? I am also concerned about babies and little ones I’m around. Is there any risk that it could transmit through clothing when they sit on my lap?

Recently, I had a rash on my shoulder after a minor surgery that involved hormonal treatments. It was in the location and shape of the circular monitor that was stuck to my skin for the procedure. The pimple like cluster had red bases with white fluid. I thought maybe they used oil to remove the sticker because I had irritation where another monitor sticker was. However, I went to my doctor and it was swabbed for HSV four days after it appeared. These are the results:
Herpes Simplex IGM Result = .57
Index Negative <=0.89
Index Equivocal .90-1.90
Index Positive >=1.00-1.10
Could this have potentially been HSV-2? How soon do I need to have a skin sore swabbed for it to be accurate? How accurate would a swab of the throat be?

I had two previous partners before my husband that I suspect I contracted this from because they both were untrustworthy. These were 17 and 15 years ago, and I went to the clinic for testing after each partner but was not aware of an HSV blood test nor offered it. How common is it to have HSV-2 orally, and are the symptoms and effects of oral HSV-2 worse than HSV-1 orally?
Within months of the first partner, I developed chronic allergies and inflammation. Within months of the second partner, I was constantly catching colds, illnesses, and eventually had a positive Tuberculosis test. Does HSV-2 weaken the immune system or cause inflammation?

Thanks!

[HealthSeeker]

I realized I didn’t provide you with my IgG test scores, so here they are:

8 months ago, my IgG test results via an at-home test were 6.4 and my husband’s were 23.4.

Last week, my IgG test from my doctor’s lab was 4.5.

I also had some more questions that are a continuation of the last topic on the previous post, which was speculation of when I caught this and other effects it might have had on my body. I was treated for Tuberculosis, so it never became active and remained latent. However, within months after the second partner, in addition to those other symptoms I mentioned above, I developed really bad dandruff, and my husband has dandruff too. Now, years after those two relationships I am kicking myself for, these are my symptoms: low back, muscle, neck, spinal pain and stiffness. I’ve also been diagnosed with endometriosis and my husband with testicular cancer. Can HSV-2 cause any of these things?

Also, most of what I have read says that outbreaks occur less frequently over time. Is that still the case as we age or does it become more difficult to manage as we get older and our immune system becomes weaker? I am wondering if we are aging sooner than our peers as a result of HSV-2.

One last question about auto-inoculation. When our immunity becomes weaker, would it then be possible to spread it to another location on the body, like our hand? I’ve seen mixed answers.

I also have some questions about further research and testing. Do you think a cure is in the not so distant future and what are some organizations and researchers to follow?

This is the last of my questions, and I want you to know how very grateful I am for your work and all of the time you take to provide us with answers. This has been very hard to discuss with other doctors, and the services you provide are unlike no other. So I am sending you a huge thanks!

[Terri Warren]

I have been using TP as a barrier and wiping down the toilet seat and sink handles with cleaning wipes or soap and water after each use. Is transmission via shared toilets possible and do these sound like reasonable steps to take?

That is overkill. HSV 2 is not spread through toilet seats or sink handles.

Can the virus shed through clothing and live where I sit – for example, on the couch? I am also concerned about babies and little ones I’m around. Is there any risk that it could transmit through clothing when they sit on my lap?

Definitely not

Recently, I had a rash on my shoulder after a minor surgery that involved hormonal treatments. It was in the location and shape of the circular monitor that was stuck to my skin for the procedure. The pimple like cluster had red bases with white fluid. I thought maybe they used oil to remove the sticker because I had irritation where another monitor sticker was. However, I went to my doctor and it was swabbed for HSV four days after it appeared. These are the results:
Herpes Simplex IGM Result = .57
Index Negative <=0.89 Index Equivocal .90-1.90 Index Positive >=1.00-1.10
Could this have potentially been HSV-2? How soon do I need to have a skin sore swabbed for it to be accurate? How accurate would a swab of the throat be?

These are not results of a swab test – they are the result of a blood test, IgM, which the CDC says never should be done and is highly inaccurate.

I had two previous partners before my husband that I suspect I contracted this from because they both were untrustworthy. These were 17 and 15 years ago, and I went to the clinic for testing after each partner but was not aware of an HSV blood test nor offered it. How common is it to have HSV-2 orally, and are the symptoms and effects of oral HSV-2 worse than HSV-1 orally?

HSV 2 orally is uncommon and rarely recurs – far less than HSV 1 orally

Within months of the first partner, I developed chronic allergies and inflammation. Within months of the second partner, I was constantly catching colds, illnesses, and eventually had a positive Tuberculosis test. Does HSV-2 weaken the immune system or cause inflammation?

It does not

I also had some more questions that are a continuation of the last topic on the previous post, which was speculation of when I caught this and other effects it might have had on my body. I was treated for Tuberculosis, so it never became active and remained latent. However, within months after the second partner, in addition to those other symptoms I mentioned above, I developed really bad dandruff, and my husband has dandruff too. Now, years after those two relationships I am kicking myself for, these are my symptoms: low back, muscle, neck, spinal pain and stiffness. I’ve also been diagnosed with endometriosis and my husband with testicular cancer. Can HSV-2 cause any of these things?

No

Also, most of what I have read says that outbreaks occur less frequently over time. Is that still the case as we age or does it become more difficult to manage as we get older and our immune system becomes weaker? I am wondering if we are aging sooner than our peers as a result of HSV-2.

You are aging at the same rate as your peers. Most people have fewer outbreaks as they age.

One last question about auto-inoculation. When our immunity becomes weaker, would it then be possible to spread it to another location on the body, like our hand? I’ve seen mixed answers.

that is extremely unlikely

I also have some questions about further research and testing. Do you think a cure is in the not so distant future and what are some organizations and researchers to follow?

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute – Dr. Keith jerome’s work

Within months of the first partner, I developed chronic allergies and inflammation. Within months of the second partner, I was constantly catching colds, illnesses, and eventually had a positive Tuberculosis test. Does HSV-2 weaken the immune system or cause inflammation?

It does not

Terri

[Author]

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