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Avatar universal

Could this be whitlow?

Hi, I have had HSV-2 for close to 10 years -- caught from my husband two years after we got married (he got it from his college girlfriend). I typically have menstruation-related outbreaks which are frustrating. Two outbreaks ago, I noticed a bright red bump on my ring finger, just under my wedding ring. Didn't itch but was tender if I pressed on it. The bump just stayed the same for several days until I finally decided to scrape the top off so it would heal up, which it did just fine.

I hadn't heard of whitlow and didn't even question what it was, but now several months later I'm having another outbreak, and here, again, under my ring is a small bright red bump. Is it possible that I can have the HSV-2 show up as whitlow on my finger like this? I thought I read someplace that an outbreak could cause whitlow on another, previously uninfected person, but that if I already had the virus, it typically wouldn't just show up on my finger….

I'm concerned about this now because we just found out we are expecting a baby later this year… just want to be sure I know what I'm dealing with so I can handle it properly.
Thanks for your insights!

Kelli
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Avatar universal
It is true that HSV can involve fingers. But it typically isn't called whitlow except as I described it above. Anyway, I'll be interested to hear the outcome if and when the finger problem has been diagnosed. In the meantime, don't worry about your baby. People with longstanding herpes very rarely transmit to the baby; the main risk of herpes of the newborn comes when new genital herpes is first acquired in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Just make sure your Ob is aware of your HSV2 history, so she can take precautions in event of a genital outbreak when you go into labor.
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Avatar universal
I'm glad it doesn't sound like whitlow to you, but I have seen plenty of pictures of OBs on other areas of the finger… maybe it always started with infection around the tip and the images just don't show that? I'm relieved for now, at least. It's just so odd how the red, tender bump has shown up with my past two OBs. Perhaps something to do with my immune system already being compromised? I'll ask the doc. Thanks again for your insight!
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Avatar universal
And by the way, your primary care provider probably will be able to accurately diagnose this. I don't see any reason to see a dermatologist, unless your main doctor recommends it.
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Avatar universal
No way this is herpes. And by the way, "herpes whitlow" isn't just a finger infection with HSV. It is a specific kind of sore that occurs at the tip of the finger, typically at the corner of a fingernail. It usually looks and feels like an especially painful infected hangnail.

See what your dermatologist says. But you can be sure it isn't herpes.
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Avatar universal
Could I somehow have been exposed to HSV1 and had it show up here? I will visit a dermatologist… maybe it's a reaction to my ring?
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Avatar universal
Your own statement is correct ("I thought I read someplace..."). Herpes whitlow occurs almost entirely during an initial HSV infection. It isn't something that would pop up 10 years later. I'm sure your finger problem had nothing at all to do with your genital HSV2 infection. No need to worry about it.

I hope this has helped. Best wishes.
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