Is HSV contagious / sheds ONLY where coldsores/breakouts appear?

[rmakas]

I’m at risk for HSV2, and I think I’m going through my first breakout, a small painful patch on the inside of my nostril, it seems. Going to Dr tomorrow to swab it. Made me ponder – if I have HSV2 and breakouts are localized to my nose only, for example — does this mean that I still shed the virus from my genitals? Or is my nose the only contagious place?

[Terri Warren]

I’m not clear why you think you might have HSV 2 in your nose – that would more likely be HSV 1. If you do have HSV 2 infection (and if they swab test it try to get them to order the PCR test vs the culture – far better- and be absolutely certain that they request typing – HSV 1 or HSV 2), then unless you have never had intercourse but have only given oral sex, it is likely in both locations if it is oral.

Can you tell me a little ore about why you have this concern? Have you ever had a cold sore on your lip in the past? I don’t believe that a first oral infection would actually only in the nose – that sounds like a recurrence of oral herpes to me if indeed it is herpes. Thought the first infection would normally be limited to the local where the virus goes in – either mouth or genitals – recurrences can show up anywhere that nerve group supplies – for the face, the nose or cheek or chin or even eye and the for the genitals the buttocks, thigh or belly.

But the virus stays in the nerve group it infects. So if only the mouth is infected, let’s say, then you would not get outbreaks in the genital area, regardless of type.
Terri

[rmakas]

Hi Terri, thanks for your prompt and informative response.

3/11/2015 blood collection for Labcorp “clia” test (think this is ELISA). Negative for HSV1, Low Positive for HSV2 (3.55)

5/08/2015 blood collection for UW WB test. No antibody to HSV1 detected; atypical reactivity to HSV2.

6/15/2015 noticed blister looking thing inside nostril that seems to match some pics I’ve seen of nasal coldsore, thus my post above. Maybe it’s a pimple and I’m being paranoid, but it seems to match the descriptions pretty well of nasal coldsore.

I’ve never had any HSV breakouts, other than the nasal blister thing. No cold sores on my lips ever. I do get canker sores inside my mouth (gums, inner lips, sometimes tongue), but they are always single ulcers rather than multiple blisters, so I believe them NOT to be cold sores. Negative UW WB HSV1 corroborates this. I do not, and have never taken, any HSV anti-virals.

I’ve been having protected sex (m/f, m/m, oral give & receive, protected PIV, protected anal give & receive) all throughout; prior to my 3/11 test, with partners that could be high-risk (anonymous sex, etc); After 3/11 results I toned down my habits and only have sex with partners I would consider very unlikely to have HSV (‘nice’ girls, no anonymous sex). I realize this isn’t failsafe; but in general, I try to be as safe as I can, and try to get STI screenings & UW WB test every 3-4 months.

I understand it’s unlikely to get HSV2 nasal cold sore for first breakout. The alleged cold sore is in a place on my nostril that could definitely come in contact genitals during cunnilingus.

Thanks for your help.

[Terri Warren]

Thanks for that explanation.
Those indeterminate western blots are so tough. If you continue to have them, the likely interpretation is that you are NOT infected. Were you going to get a swab done today? That would be great.

Our clinic is doing a study of people who have indeterminate western blots. If you are interested at all in participating, that would be great. You can call Rene at our clinic for more info.

Terri

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