possible transmission?

[sc1234]

On Monday May 4th, I went to get lunch at a fast food restaurant. My lunch is at 1030am so there wasn’t anyone waiting in the drive thru. I ordered my food and received it fairly quickly — within a 1 minute or 2. I quickly had to get back to work so I parked in the parking space right in front of the drive thru exit and began eating the food. When I was half way done eating the burrito I ordered I found a single strand of pubic hair on the outside part of the tortilla – between the tortilla and the foil wrapper. I’m almost certain it was a pubic hair because it was curly and about an inch and a half long. I was disgusted and immediately stopped eating the food. I’m a timid person but I felt I had to let management know. I went back through the drive thru and mentioned it to the person working the drive through and management soon came. They apologized and offered to replace the food but I was really disgusted that I just asked for my money back. I did not make a big scene about it because that’s not my nature.

On Thursday May 14th , around 2pm, I began feeling a slight sore throat coming on. Around 5pm, I poured me the equivalent of a shot and a half of tequila and sipped it during a 20 minute period to try to alleviate the sore throat that I felt coming on. The next day, Friday, I did not feel better or worse – no runny nose, a cough here and there, and a slight sore throat. On Saturday the 16th, I woke up almost feeling 100% – my slight sore throat was almost completely gone. However, I had a family gathering that was held outdoors later that evening, therefore, I had to talk over the music that was playing. The gathering was held outdoors and it was about 60 degrees outside. I live in southern California. The weather had been in low and mid 60’s for the previous week and it also rained the previous two days. After a few hours at the gathering my throat began to hurt. On the way home I stopped at the drugstore and bought cepacol anti-bacterial mouth wash and Alka-Seltzer cold. I woke up the next morning with a really sore throat and a slight runny nose.

My cold has lasted up until today, Friday, although the symptoms are really light at this point. Yesterday my chest felt congested and I spit out phlegm 4 or 5 times today. I coughed here and there and hardly had any signs on mucus. My throat was no longer sore despite spitting out phlegm. I work at an elementary school so I’m constantly exposed to cold germs and such. During this time, I’ve inspected the inside of my mouth and throat regularly. On Saturday night and Sunday morning the back of my throat appeared to be redder than usual. The blood veins and vessels were really red, however, I don’t believe I had any open sores or lesions in my mouth during this time. It also had rained last Thursday and Friday, a couple of days prior to my throat got really sore. My sore throat felt like a typical sore throat, however, because of the incident I previously described I’m still left really worried about possibly having contracted hsv2 orally. Another thing that adds to my worries is that I had a cut that was about 16 hours old on the inside part of my bottom lip when I ate the burrito. I bit myself pretty bad the previous day while eating pizza. The cut healed a few days later. I’ve been inspecting that area regularly since then and nothing has appeared in that area. I don’t recall having any other cuts or burns inside my mouth. One small painless bump began to appear on the lining of my lip but disappeared within 24 hours after i put chap stick overnight. i tend to press my lips together a lot and i think one of the longer and sharper whiskers of my mustache kept stabbing into the area and irritated the skin. The bump never popped just settled back down to skin level. I took pictures of my throat from Sunday night as well as the bump. I can upload them if it helps.

I have been tested for hsv1 and hsv2 four times (1 culture and 3 hsv1 and hsv2 herpes igg tests all which have come back negative) from November 2014 to March 2015. I had these test done when I started getting scattered red dots on the head of my penis. One doctor told me I should test for herpes and another two doctors said it just appeared to be skin irritations or penis eczema. Prior to this, I had not had any type of sexual contact for more than two years. The red dots first appeared a few hours after I had an intense dry sex session (naked and fully dressed with jeans on) with my current girlfriend, who up until a month and a half ago was a virgin. She had never had any type of sexual contact prior our dry sex session. However, I asked the doctors to order the test just to be certain that I did not have hsv2. I’m uncircumcised. The dots on my penis never popped, ulcerated, or scabbed over and where painless. They simply just faded away within a 1 to 3 days. These symptoms occurred 5 or 6 times over a month and a half. Since January these symptoms have stopped occurring. I believe it is impart to an improved cleaning regiment and switching to dove beauty bar. After doing some research, I believe perhaps it was skim irritation accompanied by a mild case of balanitis or a mild case of a male yeast infection. Having gone through this experience and having to wait months for test results also adds to my anxiety about the pubic hair in my food. I’ve posted my test results below.

November 12, 2014
Culture was tested for hsv1 and hsv2. Test results were negative. culture was taken three days after red dots first appeared on the 9th.

December 17, 2014, American bio-clinical laboratories.
The doctor first ordered the igm test on the 17th. I received those results on the 22th. After I received the positive hsv2 igm results, I asked for the igg test. The same blood sample that was taken on the 17th was used for the igg test. I received the igg tests on December 29th . They doctor told me it was fine to use the same blood sample, but this left me with some room for doubt that I order an online herpes igg test which was conducted at a labcorp location.

Hsv-2 IgM herpes type 2 result: .1.76 isr standard range: <0.80
Hsv-1 IgM herpes type 1 result: .25 isr standard range: <0.80

Hsv-2 IgG herpes type 2 result: .20 isr standard range: <0.80
Hsv-1 IgG herpes type 1 result: .30 isr standard range: <0.80

January 5, 2015 labcorp
Hsv2 IgG Type Spec. Result: <0.91 Range: 0.00-0.90 negative <0.91
Hsv1 IgG Type Spec. Result: <0.91 Range: 0.00-0.90 negative <0.91

March 27, 2015 labcorp
Hsv2 IgG Type Spec. Result: <0.91 Range: 0.00-0.90 negative <0.91
Hsv1 IgG Type Spec. Result: <0.91 Range: 0.00-0.90 negative <0.91

My questions:
Was there any hsv2 transmission risk from finding a pubic hair in my food? Could I have contracted hvs2 orally, if the person happened to have a genital hsv-2 outbreak and his or her pubic hair found its way into my food? I ate the food within 1 ½ to 2 minutes after I received it. Although I’m not sure of the temperature, the burrito was fairly warm/hot when I received it – not too hot though. I was not rude to any restaurant workers when ordering, I simply just ordered my food like anyone else would.
Also I’ve read that when a person doesn’t have either hsv1 or hsv2, and if they were to acquire either hsv1 or hsv2 it is almost certain that they will experience very obvious sores and lesions. It that accurate? If so, is it also true for oral hsv2 transmission?
Could I have contacted oral/throat hsv2 and not have any symptoms?
I’ve also read that oral hsv2 symptoms many times presents itself in multiple lesions? Is this accurate?
When a person does not have either hsv1 or hsv2 and if they were to acquire either virus would antibodies build up to detectable levels quicker than someone who lets say has had hsv1 for a long time?
Do you recommend that I get tested? Or do you think I just have a case of strep throat or just a really bad cold that has lasted more than a week now?

[Terri Warren]

First of all, we don’t know that that was a pubic hair. It could have been a moustache hair or a rodent hair. How would a pubic hair realistically get into fast food anyway? Btu let’s assume that this was a pubic hair. Hair does not carry virus There is absolutely no risk of you acquiring HSV from a pubic hair, if that’s indeed what it was.
You are negative for both HSV 1 and 2, by your antibody tests. I do not think that you need any more testing, absolutely not. You have no risk here. Zero. I think you had a cold and that’s it. You experience present no risk whatsoever.

Terri

[sc1234]

Thank you for your response. I guess you are right, I can’t be sure whether the hair was or was not. Ever since I was told that I might have had herpes this past November I’ve had somewhat of fear of contracting it. I have a couple more questions that I think will help put this completely behind me.

Is there a risk of contracting hsv if a food preparer has poor hand hygiene or forgets to wash their hands after visiting the restroom, then prepares food?

I’ve attached the some pictures I took of my throat when it was at its worst(Saturday night – may 17) to yesterday (Tuesday night – may 27) . Does it look like a common sore throat? yesterday’s picture looks a little worse from the previous days, but I’ve never inspected my throat like i have these last couple of weeks. I’m asking because I’m still a little worried because I’m still slightly sick, after 10 days or so. On the picture from friday the 22nd, it appears as that i have a single red spot in the back of my throat. I believe it appeared after took a sip of some really hot tea which burnt or irritated my throat. the red spot never felt or looked like an open sore and it faded away overnight. I was still spitting out phlegm monday (about four times). Yesterday, May 26, 2015, I felt almost completely back normal with the exception of a cough here and there.

thank for answering my previous questions. this has really been hanging over my head that I’ve been scared to kiss my girlfriend since this event happened.

[sc1234]

I wanted to attach a fourth picture from Tuesday the 26th but for some reason i couldn’t do it on the previous post.

I’ve also attached the picture of the bump that appeared on my upper lip Saturday may 16th. the bump faded away within 24 hours. it never popped or scabbed. it just came back down to skin level. I mentioned in the first post that I believe that it was due to one of the longer and sharper hairs on my mustache irritating that section of my lip since i have the habit of pressing my lips together quite often but i just wanted to get your expect opinion on it. the picture shows one of the hairs directly above the bump. the spot i have on my bottom lip i believe is a very small mole since i’ve had it ever since i was a kid. thank you, once again.

[Terri Warren]

This does not look like herpes to me, honestly. If you want to be more certain about your HSV 1 result a herpes western blot would pick up quite a bit more HSV 1 infection. The HSV 2 test is just fine that you’ve taken.

Terri

[sc1234]

Terri,

Thank you for your responses. You’ve helped me put my mind at ease. I was mostly concerned about these symptoms being a result of what I thought was a pubic hair in my food, which you’ve mentioned was not a risk for acquiring herpes. I just have a couple of clarifying questions. You’ve mentioned that my sore throat was more than likely due to me catching a cold and that neither of my pictures which include the bump on my upper lip and the red spot in my throat did not look to be herpes. Both the bump and red spot completely went away within 24 hours and didn’t not open up or scab. In the last 3 years, I have not have not kissed or have had any form sex with anyone other than my girlfriend, who I have been with since October 2014. We just started having sex 2 months ago. She was a virgin when we met. She cannot recall ever having a cold sore. I’ve always been very conscious about never sharing anything like drinks, food, or utensils as well. That being said, how much can I trust the three igg tests I’ve taken, all which have come back negative for both hsv1 and hsv2 – the last one being on March 27, 2015? I’m confused in that you’ve suggested a western blot if I wanted to be certain of an hsv1 infection. Wouldn’t three igg tests indicate that I don’t have hsv-1? I apologize for all the questions on this incident that you believe had no risk, it’s just that the part about the western blot testing is unclear to me. I’ve had a couple other recent health scares, outside the one doctor telling me had I might have genital herpes six months ago, that have contributed to my anxiety about herpes and overall health in general. 3 years ago, I was fully evaluated for possible seizures, after doctors at an emergency room didn’t know why I had several episodes of sudden tenseness accompanied with breathing attacks in a single day. I was immediately put on keppra and was referred to a neurologist. I underwent EEG and MRI testing, both which came back normal. The neurologist believed it to be a series of panic attacks and took me off keppra. Also, a year and a half ago I was outside the United States, there I was referred to an oncologist and I had blood work, an ultrasound, and a ct scan for a large hard lump deep in my neck that I still have but has gotten significantly smaller and softened with time. The oncologist could not tell me exactly what the lump was. He said it could be many things and perhaps even a very tense and inflamed muscle resulting from years of sleeping face down. However, he assured me that the ultrasound and ct scan did not show any signs of a mass and that my blood cells were all normal. Again, I apologize for all the questions. I have a lot of anxiety and get compulsive when it comes to health issues, and things like herpes. I’m aware that most people have hsv1 and for the most part is no big deal. I just want to understand why the 3 igg test, taken within 3 months, would not pick up an hsv1 infection?

Thank you,

[Terri Warren]

It sounds like you’ve had some legitimate health scares and I can see why you are anxious.

The screening test for HSV 1 misses at least 1-2 out of 10 infections with HSV 1. The western blot is far better if you want the absolutely best test for HSV 1. I’m not saying you need to do it, I’m just telling you what the best test is for this infectiion if you want to know in a more general way about your possibility of having HSV 1.

This is your final post on this subscription. If you have more questions, feel free to renew your subscription.

Terri

[Author]

Posts