Herpes Whitlow??

there are 2 small bumps on my thumb near my nail and they are pretty sore..a little swollen.  I went to the doctor and she said it may be herpes whitlow &started me on Valtrex  and sent me for a blood test to confirm. But today they have a little black center to them.  When I searched online it came up as warts?  I have only had sex with 1 person and he has only had sex with me.  So how could it be herpes whitlow?  I had a blood transfusion 4 years ago?  Could I have been born with it?  If its not herpes..what else could it be?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be a boil or a herpetic whitlow. Warts are not sore. Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus and are very painful unless they drain spontaneously or an incision is given by a doctor. Apply warm compresses and Neosporin ointment and avoid messing with it. You can give your father in law anti-inflammatory pain killers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

However he may require oral antibiotics and incision and drainage also.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.