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Genital HSV-1 initial outbreak/transmission questions
I am about 10 days into my initial outbreak of genital/anal HSV-1. I'm married and have been monogomous with my husband for 7 years. He has had cold sores infrequently since childhood (I never have had any signs of herpes). We had successfully avoided any transmission by not engaging in kissing/oral sex while he had cold sores. About 2 months ago I gave birth to our second child. Nine weeks after that is when the trouble started. On the day of my post-partum pelvic exam/pap smear, I began to experience painful urination (8 hours after exam). The pain increased, so I called in to have a script filled for a presumptive UTI. Well, antibiotics were, of course, useless. On day 5, I saw my OB/GYN office again. They cultured HSV-1 from the vaginal/urethral lesions and discovered I was negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2 on blood titers. So, this was a new infection, perhaps from my husband. He hasn't had a cold sore in many, many months, but he did have symptoms of the common cold a few weeks before that. Perhaps that suppressed his immune system enough to shed this orally (?). I also have 2 anal fissures, gifts from childbirth, that have become infected with HSV-1. These are causing me the most pain, but I have seen my colo-rectal specialist and am trying to deal! I'm taking acyclovir and the lesions seem to be overall less painful, but each day they seem to spread a little further. Yesterday I had a red streak that extended up between my buttocks. Today, I feel this weird tingly, chapped skin sensation on two patches of skin-inner thigh of one leg and back of hamstring area on the other leg. To make matters worse, my 3 year old daughter broke out with a weird rash yesterday morning that spread quickly over 24 hours. It looks like small, red papules and a few pustules (no vesicles like what I'd expect for a herpes lesion). I'm not sure if it's painful/itchy, but she seems not to be too bothered. Her pediatrician doesn't know what it is either, but gave us a topical antibiotic and oral acyclovir for her just in case. He doesn't want her to spread herpes to the baby! Okay, so with that, these are my questions:
1. Anybody ever have HSV-1 spread down their legs and cause these weird sensations? Will I get blisters/ulcers there, too?
2. Anybody ever give HSV-1 to their child in the form of a weird rash? I am just SICK that I could have given her herpes!
3. General risk of transmission to children via fomites (surfaces I've touched and shed virus onto-toilet seat, etc)?
4. Could I be shedding orally even though I don't have a cold sore?
5. Risk of transmitting to son through diaper change?
6. Tips for making anal herpes in fissure less painful? I have lidocaine cream and nifedipine cream to treat fissure and have been taking lots of warm baths, but defecation is brutal. Good thing I took that lamaze class, because I'm using lamaze breathing and a focal point!
7. Once I'm healed, how likely that I give my husband genital HSV-1? Might he already have it there, but just never have developed signs since he has HSV-1 orally?
8. How likely that I ever develop cold sores?
9. Any chance I developed this secondary to the pelvic exam? It seems like a pretty, freaking coincidence! And, the nurse practitioner had to go in twice because she forgot to do the PAP smear and was acting absent-minded. I didn't pay much attention to aseptic technique (or lack thereof) because I was holding my little boy who was smiling at me!
1. Anybody ever have HSV-1 spread down their legs and cause these weird sensations? Will I get blisters/ulcers there, too?
2. Anybody ever give HSV-1 to their child in the form of a weird rash? I am just SICK that I could have given her herpes!
3. General risk of transmission to children via fomites (surfaces I've touched and shed virus onto-toilet seat, etc)?
4. Could I be shedding orally even though I don't have a cold sore?
5. Risk of transmitting to son through diaper change?
6. Tips for making anal herpes in fissure less painful? I have lidocaine cream and nifedipine cream to treat fissure and have been taking lots of warm baths, but defecation is brutal. Good thing I took that lamaze class, because I'm using lamaze breathing and a focal point!
7. Once I'm healed, how likely that I give my husband genital HSV-1? Might he already have it there, but just never have developed signs since he has HSV-1 orally?
8. How likely that I ever develop cold sores?
9. Any chance I developed this secondary to the pelvic exam? It seems like a pretty, freaking coincidence! And, the nurse practitioner had to go in twice because she forgot to do the PAP smear and was acting absent-minded. I didn't pay much attention to aseptic technique (or lack thereof) because I was holding my little boy who was smiling at me!
actually I think you didn't read her questions close enough. she isn't pregnant so it's not an issue for her children. There is absolutely no risk of transmitting your genital herpes to your children after they have been born.
grace
grace
Wow, not to be disrespectful, but I think you are misleading the vermont lady. Genital herpes CAN be passed on to babies during birth, as the baby is being passed through the birth canal, especially during an active outbreak. Doctors will suggest being on acyclovir if the pregnant lady is having an outbreak, especially if it is the initial outbreak, or will suggest the lady have a C-section. Herpes can be bad for babies as their immune system is not quite developed yet. They can get herpes in the eye or even meningeal herpes. I cannot attest to how common these things happen, but they can happen. To discount it and say "it can never happen" is a disservice.
children do not contract genital herpes from their parents. we don't have that sort of contact with them. what did her doctor feel was the reason behind her rash? if she now has pain with urination, she needs seen again for urine testing.
yes you can get tingling in the legs with ob's but it's your other symptoms that need follow up on. soaking in the bathtub is helpful with the pain /muscle aches from herpes. also take tylenol and/or advil as needed . those heat packs you can buy for back pain that stay warm for 8-10 hours are also nice for the pain in the legs.
yes, hand sanitizer kills herpes easily. so does soap and water.
when women get herpes on their nipples, it's typically from their babies contracting hsv1 orally and giving it to mom when breast feeding. you can also get it from a partner sucking on your nipples but usually it only occurs when the nipple is cracked like it gets with breast feeding.
yes you can get tingling in the legs with ob's but it's your other symptoms that need follow up on. soaking in the bathtub is helpful with the pain /muscle aches from herpes. also take tylenol and/or advil as needed . those heat packs you can buy for back pain that stay warm for 8-10 hours are also nice for the pain in the legs.
yes, hand sanitizer kills herpes easily. so does soap and water.
when women get herpes on their nipples, it's typically from their babies contracting hsv1 orally and giving it to mom when breast feeding. you can also get it from a partner sucking on your nipples but usually it only occurs when the nipple is cracked like it gets with breast feeding.
Thanks, Grace. I do have an appointment on Monday for me. I am feeling more comfortable this morning in the vaginal and anal areas, but still have this weird tingling sensation on the back of both legs (hamstring areas). It doesn't exactly hurt-just feels kind of like I put something like Bengay or IcyHot linament on my legs (but I didn't). I have read that other people have had weird symptoms like this during/following HSV outbreaks. It doesn't sound typical, though. My daughter complained last night that it hurt when she urinated. I tried to examine her with a flashlight, but didn't see any vaginal lesions. She had been to the pediatrician yesterday morning for the rash. I am really, really worried that she has painful urination, as that is EXACTLY what my first symptom was. I can't imagine how she would have contracted this though, as I am a fastidious hand washer and keep hand sanitizer in the car, etc. BTW, does the standard alcohol based hand sanitizer kill HSV-1?? I will follow up this week with my OB/GYN and my daughter's pediatrician and keep the group posted. Thanks for any help members can offer. I'm off to soak my bottom in the tub before the baby wakes up for another feeding. Oh, that's another thing-I am breastfeeding and I hope not to get this on my nipples! I know it would be rare, but dairy cattle get a cow-specific herpes on their teats, occassionally. I sure hope this doesn't happen to people!! That's the last thing I need!!!!
I know it's a pain but I encourage you to be seen monday and be examined again. herpes will not cause streaks of red as you've described and it sounds like you have more than just hsv1 going on in the anogenital area.
it's not likely at all that your daughter has herpes on her body. there should be someone on call for her pediatrician's office - give them a call monday during the day and ask for advice.
your husband already has hsv1 orally. He actively sheds the virus in between obvious cold sores as you know since that's how you got it. he's very unlikely to contract hsv1 genitally from you. general recommendations are to just avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally.
You won't transmit genital herpes to your children. we don't have that sort of contact with them. you won't transmit it through toilet seats or surfaces either.
a sitz bath or just soaking in the bathtub with epsom salts thrown in is helpful. another option is vinegar in the water. both are helpful for pain and swelling. you can also use tucks pads - hold them as a compress in between your buttocks as needed.
definitely follow up on this. sounds like multiple issues going on in your household that need dealt with. let us know how it all turns out.
grace
it's not likely at all that your daughter has herpes on her body. there should be someone on call for her pediatrician's office - give them a call monday during the day and ask for advice.
your husband already has hsv1 orally. He actively sheds the virus in between obvious cold sores as you know since that's how you got it. he's very unlikely to contract hsv1 genitally from you. general recommendations are to just avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally.
You won't transmit genital herpes to your children. we don't have that sort of contact with them. you won't transmit it through toilet seats or surfaces either.
a sitz bath or just soaking in the bathtub with epsom salts thrown in is helpful. another option is vinegar in the water. both are helpful for pain and swelling. you can also use tucks pads - hold them as a compress in between your buttocks as needed.
definitely follow up on this. sounds like multiple issues going on in your household that need dealt with. let us know how it all turns out.
grace
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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.
