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Confused and concerned about whitlow...
Okay, so I was diagnosed with herpetic whitlow when I was 23. The outbreaks have always come the same way and in the same place (middle finger of my left hand). About 1-2 days before the outbreak, I feel some tingling and swelling in my finger followed by it being really itchy and erupting into a blister that is quite painful. I have always been very careful about keeping it covered and have taken Acyclovir to help. It's always covered with a band aid or other dressing unless I'm washing my hand or putting ointment on. The last outbreak that I had was earlier this summer and it came and went in the same way. As the infection was clearing up, I noticed what appeared to be a small white pimple on the outside of the knuckle on my right hand. No pain or itching...it was just there and I didn't think much of it. It took longer to go away than a normal pimple would and as that one was clearing up, a second one appeared between my knuckle and where my finger joins my hand. It cleared up in about the same time. Nether instance itched, swelled, or became painful. Friday night I was sitting watching tv and I noticed my finger getting really itchy and I look down and there is a patch of read skin where the second pimple was. This area itched like a *******, I panicked and wrapped it up in a band aid. I never noticed a sore or anything like I experience when I'm having an outbreak in the primary infection site. The only thing was the itching.... I made a Dr.'s appointment, but he can't see me until Thursday, and I was wondering if it is possible that I may have infected my other finger. The only time my outbreaks on my left hand are uncovered are when I'm washing my hands and changing the dressing on it. I have been so careful over the last 5 years and this is the first time I'm had anything like this happen. I was just wondering if anyone had any answers/comments..... Also, it's only been a few days, but all that is left on my right finger is a small red spot....
One more thing... at what point is it completely safe to stop wearing the band aid? I have always wondered about this. Is it at the point when the blister actually falls off? Is it after all the itching and burning stop and the swelling goes away? Normally after the blister falls off, the skin is generally reddish where the blister was, but looks like new skin. Is it safe to not be wearing the band aid at this point? I was just curious, because I'm probably wearing the band aid a lot longer than needed.
What you are referring to is autoinculation and while it can happen it is not as much as one things. Your antibodies will fight the infection at a new site. No the virus isn't going to do anything if you have the area covered. Remember skin to skin contact needs to take place.
Well, as always, I appreciate all the answers that you guys give and the invaluable asset that you can be for people. My last question for now may sound silly, but it was just a passing thought. For people with herpetic whitlow, is there any chance of passing it to the mouth area via eating with your hands (like a sandwich or hamburger) or smoking, even if the blister is covered up at the time and the effected area is kept away from the face. I know the skin on the hands is thick, but the lips are not. I think with the blister covered, it would be hard to pass it on indirectly like this, but I was wondering if it was a possibility. Thank you all again.
I undestand completely what you are saying. When I started this post last year, it was all about the small little blister like pimple things that I was getting and wondering if they were related to what happens on my left middle finger. As I had mentioned before, there was never any swelling and sometimes only some minor itching, but nothing like what happens on my finger. There was also never any rhyme or reason to where they would show up. The outbreaks that happen on my left finger cause typically intense pain and swelling and itch tremendously and look almost exactly like the pictures I've seen online. These ones always come back in the same 2 places, everytime. They normally happen every 6 months or so. But I got an extra 3 months this time, I'm assuming because of the daily acyclovir. Is there a limit to how long one can be on daily suppressive therapy?
nope, no incredible hulk worries :) steroids just make your herpes more active, it doesn't cause the virus to mutate into something worrisome.
your description of symptoms is why I continue to doubt that you have whitlow or only have whitlow. sounds far more like a contact dermatitis which can result from many things including ingredients in hand soaps, contact with metal as well as many other things including latex. hopefully you can get that dermatology consult soon.
your description of symptoms is why I continue to doubt that you have whitlow or only have whitlow. sounds far more like a contact dermatitis which can result from many things including ingredients in hand soaps, contact with metal as well as many other things including latex. hopefully you can get that dermatology consult soon.
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