[Question #8075] Do I really have Genital Herpes?

49 months ago

Hey, Terri.

November 15, 2020, I have protected vaginal and oral intercourse(my first one) with a female sexworker(I am male). And in the first 15 days, no any other weird things in my penis.

In the 2,3,4,5 week after my exposure, I have 4 Capita test, all negative. 6 week, Roche Elecsys test, all negative, HSV II igg: 0.06(in Roche test, 0.5~1 is grey zone, 1+ is positive). In 12 13 14 week, I have a igg test produced by a Italian company call Dia.pro, and HSV II igg positive (12: 1.4, 13:1.2, 14: 1.9, >1 is positive). 16 week, I have Capita test and Roche Elecsys again, all negative(HSV II igg: 0.073). In the 8 month, I have Roche Elecsys test, all negative(HSV II igg: 0.075).

During the last 9 month, I have 7 PCR test (4 in genital part, 3 in blisters on hand and legs), all negative. I have sorted out every lesions that ever came out during the 9 month time, EXCEPT 2 lesions which ACTUALLY concerns me. Just see once, no chance to swab.

One lesion, it showed up in Feb 17(3 months after exposure, 5 months from now). AND in my last thread, you told me this is the MOST concerning part in my story. It was 3 a.m. in the morning. I woke up and found a cut-like lesions at the back and the end of my penis, about 1 cm long, along one seam in that area. It didn't have a red base. When I found it, it was filled in clear water(It wasn't a blister). I used a paper to dry the lesion, and went back to sleep. When I woke up at 9 a.m., it has developed scab. The day I found it, I went hiking, and I took a shower that night, failed to notice it. I NEVER see anything weird in that area since then.

The other lesion, it showed up in Feb 4. It was 2 red rashes. It was at the end of my shaft near the head(in condom protected area). My foreskin is too long, and they are on the surplus part. Just 2 red rashes, each one about 0.5cm. One is on one side and the other is almost on the other side of my penis. They feels or touches just like normal skin, no special feelings.

49 months ago

Terri, I am living in Shanghai, and I can't find a person to draw and spin my blood.

And I don't have cold sores before.

1. Based on your rich experiences, do you think I have herpes?

2. On your forum, you said you no longer suggest people to test at 4 month. Do you mean if one person have negative swab and negative blood test at 7 week, the chance he/she has herpes is really low(almost none)?

3. Do you think the 2 lesions I described is herpes? Can herpes develop scab that fast like I do?

4. What does a herpetic red rash looks and feels like? Do you think my red rash is herpes?

5. Do you have patients like me before, are they later confirmed having herpes? And based on my situation right now, what do you think I should do next?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

49 months ago

Sorry, I missed this one.

Given all the testing you've had done, I seriously doubt that you have herpes. And the cut isn't a typical herpes lesion either.

It is not necessary to wait 4 months - testing at 3 months is adequate, that's what I meant.

Herpes is not really what I would call a rash. A group of herpes lesions would look like water blisters on a red base, I don't think that is really a rash.

If you cant' find anyone to draw your blood for a westernblot, I think you should believe the Igg tests that you have that are negative. Your positives are in the very low positive range and there is an 85% chance that these are false positives.

Obviously, I can't promise you anything but that is my opinion about your test results and your symptoms

Terri

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49 months ago

Hey, Terri. There is something that I have forgotten telling you.

About 8 months after my exposure, I found a cluster of small scabs on my leg, very close to my knee, about 5 cm away from my knee. It was about 26 round scabs with different sizes. The bigger one is about the size of a hair follicle, the smaller one is smaller than the head of a needle. I have never seen blisters in this area. And I think I haven't seen the sores open the day before I found it.

And the next day, I went to the hospital immediately. I took a PCR swab, and the doctor use some water to softly rub it. And I have seen the cotton stick has changed its color. And HSV I and HSV II returned negative.

And I sent the picture of the sore to an experienced dermatologist doctor. And he told me it did look like herpes, but he thinks it wasn't in the box shorts area, so it wasn't caused by HSV, though the sores were very slight.

Do you think it was herpes? And can herpes zoster cause symptoms that slight?

49 months ago

And I have one thing to add that the lesion was on the front of my leg. Since the exposure, I have read so much from Medhelp and your forum. And I remember that doc Hook has commended on one thread that the nerves on the front of knee don't connect to genital area.

I now have

negative Capita at 2,3,4,5,16 week,

negative Roche Elecsys at 6(0.06), 16 week(0.073) and 8 month(0.075) (0~0.5 negative, 0.5~1 grey zone, 1+ positive)

9 negative PCR swab,

low positive Dia.pro test at 12,13,14 week, just HSV II positive(1.4, 1.2, 1.9)

Cut-like single 1cm lesions at the back and the end of penis, which developed scab overnight(at 3 month),

a cluster of scabs on the front of my leg(Really look like herpes), and PCR negative(at 8 month)
eczema on my groin near my penis, having 3 PCR negative.

I just can't have a Western Blot done because of the COVID 19. If I can, I will do whatever I can to have one done.

1. Lesions on my knee, is it true that the nerves on the front of my knee also don't connect to my genital area? Should I be worried about it?

2. Lesions on my knee, do you think it was herpes? And can herpes zoster cause symptoms that slight?

3. If I use more FDA cleared test to test igg, will it be helpful to prove that my previous result is false positive?

4. Do you think I have herpes?

5. Terri, you have 30 years practice on herpes, you are the best. I just really want to know, in your clinic, how do you suggest patients after having a HSV exposure?

49 months ago

Hey, Terri. Now what concerns me most was the lesions that look like herpes on the front of my thigh. I want to add a few more detail.

It indeed looks like some very slight shingles when it develops scabs. It was a little bigger than the iPhone home button. And the day before I found it, I have taken shower. If there is anything weird, I think I will found it. I have never seen any open sores or blisters in that place.

And I have something that might be helpful. On the edge of the lesions, I can see many very very small scabs. It's so small that it was even smaller than the head of a needle. And there are one or two small red dots which don‘t be higher than the surface of the skin. And about 3cm near the lesions, there is a rash.

And when I first notice it, it has already developed scabs but has a red base. When I took the PCR, the doctor didn't have the water on the cotton stick. I have some sweat on the sore. The doctor just rob the sores a few times, and I can see the button stick has changed the color.

AND the most important question, Terri, does the skin on the front of my thigh(5cm away from the knee) connect to the nerve of my genital area?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

49 months ago

I can't tell from your post if these tiny scabs are recurrent or happened only once.

The innervation of the front of the thigh is not in the same nerve group as the genitals are. The back of the thigh IS in the same nerve group as the penis.

A swab test for herpes would not change color upon taking the swab if the swab was positive for herpes - or negative!

I know this is worrying you still but with all of your negative testing, I think you can believe that you don't have herpes. That's the best opinion that I can give you. When and if you can get the western blot, you probably should as this could be the final answer for you. I'm not sure why COVID would prevent you from getting the test but when you can, you should do it to rest your mind.

Terri

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