[Question #9342] First symptoms in oro-larynx (oral herpes exposure to breasts) Is this herpes?

Avatar photo
33 months ago

Hello Terry, I had a massage exposure 3 weeks ago and another one 2 days ago. In both the sessions I licked breasts of massage therapists more aggressively in second case (I know gross me). After6 hours I started on sore throat and within 15 hrs I have bad sore throat and after 2 days today I have seen back of my throat as it pains there are some red spots in the back. The spots are on both the sides and I don’t see redness like a typical sore throat overall. I am sure I never kissed anyone other than my wife and we never had oral herpes. I am scared this is Oral herpes and now the primary infection started within the oro-larynx area as pain and redness and spots within the 48 hrs. Are these symptoms consistent with oral herpes and the exposure I talked about above in both the cases (both sessions) and keeping timelines in mind (3.5 weeks post first massage and 2 days post second massage). Please advise as I am scared of oral herpes and it pains my throat a lot. I am having runny nose and also fatigue. Appreciate some suggestions/reassurance. Thanks.

Avatar photo
33 months ago
Also an update, I have seen redness and tenderness in the throat, I do see small vesicles in the bottom most portion of my throat where it goes into the esophagus. Looks pretty similar to a classic outbreak - redness, swelling, irritation and pain and seen few vesicles. I m traveling and out of the US, so not sure what testing to ask for and what the result is going to look like. 
Avatar photo
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
33 months ago
Licking the breasts of a woman would not give you HSV, no.  Did you kiss her or not?  
There are lots of reasons that someone might have a sore throat - a bacterial infection like strep or a viral infection other than herpes, as well.,  
If you are still concerned that you might have herpes, you could go to a hospital or urgent care clinic and tell them about your concern and ask if they could swab your throat.  But honestly, your experience does not present a risk for herpes.  If there was kissing as well, that might be a risk.

Terri
---