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herpes fears
My story is aprrox 7 months ago had one night stand (protected vaginal sex, unprotected oral and rimming), did a complete STD check at appropriate times. I have had feelings of burning, itching irritation since that encounter. I tested negative for HSV2 after 14.4 weeks, positive for HSV1 (cold sores since childhood). I am in Australia and it was IGG test but not sure was the test eg herpeselect etc). I have since met and had sex with another man (spent 3 weekends together in past 7 months). I was starting to get over my herpe anxiety until i discovered an irritated looking area near my perinuem. I had it checked out by GP, had PCR swab which came back negative. I applied zinc oxide cream to area which seemed to reduce inflammation alot overnight. It only took a few more days to clear up. About 1 week later there was another area of irritation on the opposite side of my perineum and redness that seemed to spread down around my anus. I also had this swabbed, PCR, that came back negative. This perineal irritation seems to ease off and on and I had also been using zinc oxide cream on it. However during this time I have had a couple of skin tears on the side of my anus. Firstly on the right side, that healed, then 1 on my left side that still hurts when use the toilet. I have had anal symptoms in past 7 months and had them checked out at STD clinic and was told did not look herpetic.The anal skin tears didn't concern me as I have had skin tears in the past, but then i read that anal skin tears from trauma occur to posterior midline of anus and if they occur on the sides it is more likely a viral infection like herpes. So I guess my question is does this sound like herpes and is this likely a herpes infection from my encounter 7 months ago, is 14.4 wks long enough for accurate results. What should I do from here to rule out herpes? I know I have alot of anxiety issues over this but it just seems to coincidental that all these herpe like symptoms keep appearing.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm going to end this thread now. If you have more concerns about your daughter, you need to consult with your pediatrician, please.
Terri
Terri
My daughter has now developed a cough and a temperature, could this be related?
Thankyou for your response. Would you be able to explain why you think there is little risk. I am having panic attacks over this.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I doubt very very seriously that this would be present any risk at all to your daughter.
Terri
Terri
I just needed to add that when I scratched her anus it did involve some rubbing motion which could massage in the virus. I did use 2 or 3 baby wipes to do this if that offers any protection.
I'm not sure if I can still post on this but I have a question about transmission to my daughter. I have a cold sore at the moment, and last night my daughter was complaining of an itchy bottom and asked me to have a look at it. I did and I touched her butt cheeks and maybe even closer to vagina when looking and then used wipes to scratch her anus where it was itchy. Now I'm paranoid I have infected her with hsv1. O hadn't touched my cold sore directly with my hands but I may have touched my lips or something prior to touching my daughter, she is 4. I'm scared.
I'm not sure if I can still post on this but I have a question about transmission to my daughter. I have a cold sore at the moment, and last night my daughter was complaining of an itchy bottom and asked me to have a look at it. I did and I touched her butt cheeks and maybe even closer to vagina when looking and then used wipes to scratch her anus where it was itchy. Now I'm paranoid I have infected her with hsv1. O hadn't touched my cold sore directly with my hands but I may have touched my lips or something prior to touching my daughter, she is 4. I'm scared.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, you can. I would recommend that you take 1-2 per day to try to prevent cold sores. You should start 5 days ahead of your vacation.
Terri
Terri
Just a question on cold sores. Can I use antivirals to prevent myself getting cold sores eg if I'm going on holidays. I have a script for famciclovir 500mg tablets. Can I say take 1 of them a day to try and stop myself getting cold sores.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are welcome.
Terri
Terri
Good day, Terry can you share some light on my question?
Thankyou so much for all your responses. It certainly does put my mind at ease:)
Good news to hear. My question is the probability of getting herpes after a one time oral encounter. Can I get any information on this, my anxiety is getting to me...?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, the chances of you getting HSV 1 are very rare. I have seen maybe one case in 32 years of practice, and that one is very iffy.
Terri
Terri
I got my results today. -ve for hsv2, HIV, syphilis, hepc. +ve hsv1 which I knew as I've had coldsores since young. I am quite relieved. Just double checking that chances of me having genital hsv1 are very rare. Have been getting cold sores for a long time before being sexually active.
Thankyou again. I got another blood test done today before I read your last post, it includes a syphilis test aswell. Can I post my results? It will be about 4 days time.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good idea for your partner to be tested, yes, so you both know what you have and what you don't. And that is only worthwhile if neither of you have other new partners, right?
PCR can certainly pick up virus beyond 48 hours, it is far more sensitive than culture. There is no particular time frame for when PCR would pick up infection, but it does work well when symptoms are present. It can also pick up virus when no symptoms are present, however.
The antifungals can take up to two weeks to work, when applied twice daily. Be patient. I'm still not worried about herpes given your negative antibody test and your negative PCR swabs.
Terri
PCR can certainly pick up virus beyond 48 hours, it is far more sensitive than culture. There is no particular time frame for when PCR would pick up infection, but it does work well when symptoms are present. It can also pick up virus when no symptoms are present, however.
The antifungals can take up to two weeks to work, when applied twice daily. Be patient. I'm still not worried about herpes given your negative antibody test and your negative PCR swabs.
Terri
Thankyou for your response. Just wanted to clarify the timeline. I had the initial irritation about 3 1/2 weeks ago and that seemed to clear up alot in a few days with zinc oxide cream. About 1 week later I developed the irritation on the other side of the perineum whch i still have about 1 1/2 weeks later. There is now also a little irritation on both sides of perineum but its a different location to the first (hope thats not too confusing) Does this change your opinion. I'm also concerned about the reliablity of PCR as I;m not sure if I had it tested within 48 hrs of occuring. I was tested for syphilis when had my hsv tested back in April but not recently, they also swabbed for yeast and there was a small amount on swab. I have been applying zinc oxide cream which I'm not sure if it is helping. Yesterday I starting using anti-fungal cream once I was told there was some yeast on the swab, hasn't helped yet. If this was an anal tear from herpes how long would it take to heal and do you usually have more than one.One issue I have is that my current partner wants to have unprotected sex and he says he will get tested. So if he tests negative from what I have told you do you think it would be safe for him to have unprotected sex with me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, this does not sound like herpes to me. I'm not in agreement about the location of tears or irritation being diagnostic of viral etiology vs. anything else - I think that's imaginary. Also, you've had negative PCRs which is very good. Good also that they weren't cultures as PCRs are more sensitive. Also, herpes tends to come and go, not hang around for three weeks. Was any other testing done, like syphilis testing or fungal cultures? Have you put anything on it to try to make it better?
I do believe that if you were going to become positive for HSV 2 it would have been present at 14+ weeks. We normally wait 16 weeks to test, but I doubt there is much difference between the two.
Another option would be to have your doctor give you some PCR swabs to take home and gather if you have worrisome symptoms. But that might be kind of over the top, really. But a good way to get some clarity about specific symptoms.
Terri
I do believe that if you were going to become positive for HSV 2 it would have been present at 14+ weeks. We normally wait 16 weeks to test, but I doubt there is much difference between the two.
Another option would be to have your doctor give you some PCR swabs to take home and gather if you have worrisome symptoms. But that might be kind of over the top, really. But a good way to get some clarity about specific symptoms.
Terri
Just adding, the perineal irritation started about 3 weeks ago.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
