Hi, you cant reinfect yourself and having hsv1 in one area would make you basicly immune to contracting it in another, like the genital. Herpes most always appears in the same spot but can appear anywhere in the nerve ganglion zone. Did a swap of your ear come back positive?
Hi, herpes most often breaksout in the same spot give or take an inch but its possible to have an outbreak anywhere from your breast up as is part of the nerve ganglion. You were not reinfected. Did you have your ear sore swabbed as you meantion it was confirmed.
Yes, it was swabbed as a positive hsv ear infection as well as my neck. Blood tests show know hsv1 positive, hsv2 negative.
I've experienced similar looking lesions on the back of my neck as well.
To note, the dermatologist was hesitant to swab as the ear lesion was very subtle, but still there. Be called me and told me or was positive so I was put on 800 mg acyclovir 5 times daily, it helped but the lesions are atoll present, but definitely better. I'm now on daily suppressive medication.
Glad your feeling better.
Oh, to answer your question, when you have any new sores, just be careful around young children as they are at most risk for contacting as their immune systems are not yet strong. And avoid open sore rubbing lip contact with your acquaintces.
So is it possible the reinfection happened from the ganglion nerves spreading if I've had a long term infection. Or is his more likely to be autoinnoculation from a recently acquired ghsv infection. I believe this to have spread during asymptomatic symptoms?
I do have a young one who I'm afraid to touch because I don't want to infect them you know? It's rough having a newborn you can't touch because you don't want to infect them.
What might explain this is that your cold sores were not herpes outbreaks and that your area of breakout is your ear area. Yes, when a person contracts herpes, it travels to the base of the spine in the neck area and can appear anywhere above the breats. You did not reinfect and it does not spread in that sence. It choose a nerve to come up through and its not known why this occurs.
You can touch your child as you dont have herpes in the hand ganglion. Thats called herpes whitlow and is very rare. Just avoid the child coming into contact with ear sores or other areas it breaks out.
Taking antivirals will reduce your outbreaks and shedding fairly close to zero so dont be overly concerned about passing it to your child.
If the cold sores were herpes in the past and now it's occurring on the neck, may this be a sign of immunocompromised? Say if I had liver disease?
Tested negative for hiv so we can rule that out. But I've read things like liver disease can cause immune system issues.
How do you know the ones on your neck are herpes?
Dermatologist looked at it and the rash was present at the same time the ear herpes were determined. Swab test confirmed hsv positive.
Did they swab the neck or just the ear.
Just the inner ear but the dermatologist said that the symptoms associated and after looking at the pictures of progression and the visible rash looked exactly like herpes and was not shingles.
I guess without a swab it's impossible to tell but doctors are telling me it's most likely associated with hsv. Would this happen with a compromised immune system? Meaning hiv or liver disease or something else?
My knowledge of compromised immune would be in the nature of contracting herpes in the first place not have recurrent outbreaks. You might want to start out with some antivirals if your infact having these outbreaks as would aide in preventing outbreaks and aid in healing. If they dont respond, like your neck rash, would be evidence that they are not herpes.
The lesion in my ear definitely tested positive for hsv. After 10 days of 800mg 5 times a day taken at 4hour 48 minute intervals and then 800 mg twice a day ever since, the lesion is still present. That was exactly 15 days ago, shouldn't it have already gone away unless my immune system was compromised? This is also the 4th recurrence this year, this one just happens to be the longest.
Which medication are your taking valtrex?
Zovirax. I took 3 rounds of valtrex at 1gram 3 times daily for 10 days each time the rash occurred this year. Now I'm on zovirax as I have no insurance and it's much cheaper. So zovirax 800mg 5 times daily for 10 days and 800 mg twice daily after.
Im not familar with that brand
Yes thats acyclovior and the recommened for recurrent is 400mg 3 times a day for 7-10 days or 800 mg 3 times a day for 10 days.
Maybe see your doc about why its not clearing up.
So I was prescribed over the recommended dose at 800mg 5 times a day and then suppressive of 800mg twice daily for until it goes away for a while. Even at that high dosage it's still there and that's I was wondering if I might be immunocompromised as it's still there.
I tested negative for hiv, but I'm getting tested again and getting my livers tested as well to make sure I'm not immunocompromised.
I have an appt next week and another a couple weeks after to test. Any recommendations on questions I can ask my doctor a
As to why this is persistent? Anything else rah may be compromising my immune system?
it's unfortunate that they didn't also culture your neck rash to confirm. It's not unusual for other infections to trigger shedding of hsv1.
is it likely that you had a massive hsv1 recurrence in all these places? no it is not. Indeed your oral hsv1 infection can travel along the nerve to cause lesions in the ear but also traveling down and causing lesions on the neck at the same time would've been very unusual. I think your provider erred on the side of caution and gave you the shingles dose of acyclovir just in case you do have shingles. suppressive therapy with acyclovir is just 400mg twice a day. no real benefit to the 800mg twice a day dose. actually no good reason for suppressive therapy either to be honest.
so what do you do at this point? well not a lot you can do since your window of opportunity for cultures of the neck is gone. It will take time to heal completely. Should you get a return of symptoms, be seen promptly for further evaluation.
should you suspect some sort of immunocompromise? not really at this point.
Because the neck rash has recurred 3 or so times the dermatologist suggests it's more likely hsv compared to shingles. But your right, not much I can do unless there's a rash or blister to swab.
He recommended suppressive therapy daily to limit the recurrences. Do you think I should stray from daily suppressive medication so he can swab the recurrence, hopefully there won't be one but just in case?
If rather be safe than sorry and my understanding is that hsv ear/neck infections can be more dangerous than a shingles infection?
no, they are not at all dangerous, just unsightly.