various Questions

[Confused121]

Terri,

I think i just got infected with oral HSV1 n am going thru a primary outbreak – don’t believe I was ever infected before this. I got exposed on the 16th, and for the past 2-3 days have had severe facial itching almost all over the face. Just an hour ago I saw a rash next to my nose. I also have started itching just next to my left eye (about half an hour ago). But i don’t have a sore throat, only a very mild pain on the front side of my neck, nor other flu symptoms. A few questions:

1. I am starting applying abreva on rash, should I also start applying at other places where I am feeling itchy? What about just next to my eye?

2. I am going to the doctor tomorrow, will get the prescription for valtrex. I also intend to get the tests done – PCR as well as a baseline igg. Is that enough? Should I even get an igm or any other tests done?

I have an 8 month pregnant wife n a 3 year n a 5 year old kid, and I am determined not to give it to them. I have already started using a separate toothpaste, separate towels, stopped sharing utensils, etc, but a few more questions:

3. Can cold sores be transmitted by sleeping on the same bed? Say If I sleep on a pillow n then my wife takes the same pillow a few hours later?

4. What about laundry – should I do my laundry separately? Esp because we don’t use bleach in our house (sons allergies)

5. Any idea if green works is good enough to sterilize surfaces? Its ingredients are sodium hydroxide, some pant based non ionic surfactant (alkyl polyglucoside) etc. Should we change to something stronger?

6. Can hsv be transmitted by me washing my hands and then somebody else coming n using the same tap (esp if they don’t wash hands but say just rinse)?

Thanks.

[Confused121]

Actually don’t know is it’s hsv1. But it seems cold sores.. So I guess could be either. Thanks

[Terri Warren]

1. I am starting applying abreva on rash, should I also start applying at other places where I am feeling itchy? What about just next to my eye?

Honestly, I’m not at all clear that you are having a first episode HSV 1 infection. I would expect, with a first infection, that you symptoms might be more oral than the places that you describe. If you want to really know if you have herpes, I wouldn’t apply herpes medicine at this point as it might confused the herpes testing.

2. I am going to the doctor tomorrow, will get the prescription for valtrex. I also intend to get the tests done – PCR as well as a baseline igg. Is that enough? Should I even get an igm or any other tests done?

Yes, that’s enough. No IgM!

I have an 8 month pregnant wife n a 3 year n a 5 year old kid, and I am determined not to give it to them. I have already started using a separate toothpaste, separate towels, stopped sharing utensils, etc, but a few more questions:

3. Can cold sores be transmitted by sleeping on the same bed? Say If I sleep on a pillow n then my wife takes the same pillow a few hours later?

No, that is not a method of tranmission

4. What about laundry – should I do my laundry separately? Esp because we don’t use bleach in our house (sons allergies)

No, that’s not necessary

5. Any idea if green works is good enough to sterilize surfaces? Its ingredients are sodium hydroxide, some pant based non ionic surfactant (alkyl polyglucoside) etc. Should we change to something stronger?

What surfaces do you want to sterilize? I really don’t think that is necessary

6. Can hsv be transmitted by me washing my hands and then somebody else coming n using the same tap (esp if they don’t wash hands but say just rinse)?

No.

What happened here that you are so worried that you acquired a new HSV 1 infection?

Terri

[Confused121]

Thanks a lot for the answers Terri. I was at a strip club n a striper kissed me on my lips and my face. No tongue though, just dry kisses. Also she put her hand up my shorts, and grabbed my genitals for about a minute or so. Unfortunately I get a lot of eczema around my scrotum, and I had cracked skin there that day. I don’t know if she had herpes, but given the statistics, I am assuming quite possible.

Btw my symptoms have changed a bit since yesterday. The rash next to my nose has disappeared completely. I still have b itching on my face, n pain in the front of my neck is still there (assuming it’s my lymph nodes?) N I have bad smell coming from my mouth starting today. I haven’t been to the doctor, but will get a baseline igg still (now the pcr I guess doesn’t make sense).

You don’t think this is herpes at all? I mean can I have all the other symptoms described above but no rashes and still have herpes?

And what are the statistics on viral shedding in asymptomatic carriers?

Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

Oral herpes is shed on 9-18% of days sampled.
I knew there was something going on here that worried you but I seriously seriously doubt that you acquired herpes in this situation. Putting her hand in your shorts is not going to transmit herpes to you.
Honestly, I think you are feeling some guilt and it is distorting your view of what’s risky. But I’m here to reassure you that your behaviors were not risky.

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

Terri

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Terri Warren.

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