-have you heard of intrauterine hsv2 in a longstanding infection?
No
-Does hsv live in the sacral AND lumbar dermatomes? If both I see hsv can appear anywhere on the legs why is the boxer shorts area always mentioned then?
The sacral ganglia, but if you look at a nerve dermatome picture, you will see that it also innervates the back of the leg into the foot. The leg skin is too thick for shedding which is why it is not a concern.
-would suppressive therapy reduce the chances of hsv OBs on thicker skin or not necessarily?
Everywhere, yes!
-What signs or symptoms would you consider a possible OB on the legs that should be covered to protect my kids? Unfortunately every red mark or bump I jump to HERPES and want to think logically about it
I have seen herpes on a leg below the knee maybe twice in my whole career. And it looked like a group of small water blisters on a red base.
-I know the mons pubis is too thick for viral shedding but what about the labia major?
Yes, that could shed
-Simple handwashing is enough to prevent whitlow autoinoculation? I don’t have to worry about missing a spot or needing to clean again, correct? Hand sanitizer also kills hsv?
Simple handwashing is adequate yes. The soap destroys the lipid layer that surrounds the virus and the virus falls apart and is rendered harmless.
-I should not be nervous wearing a bathing suit or changing around my kids?
No, that’s fine.
-My dad has OHSV1. As long as he doesn’t kiss my kids with an active outbreak he can’t transmit it to them?
Correct
-You are 100% certain there isn’t enough hsv on dirty underwear, a sanitary pad, a piece of toilet paper, etc. for autoinoculation or to infect someone else?
Yes. Obviously, if you wipe a sore with a pice of toilet paper and some picks up that exact same toilet paper within moments and wipes their genitals, there is a remote chance that transmission could occur but I am assuming that you flush toilet paper down the toilet after using it.
-Dealing with my anxiety: I tell myself hsv is a very well studied virus and I can trust the info from the medical field? As you know, ppl write all sorts of stuff on the internet but this is a very understood virus?
It is
-Besides a different strain and location there is no reason to think I will suffer complications more than someone with OHSV1?
Correct
-Is abdominal surgery risky if you have hsv2? Can it spread around your body or organs?
No
Thank you for answering all my questions. I really need to trust the info you provide and work with my therapist on my fears
I’m very glad you are seeing someone to work on this issue
terri