Chicken Pox or Herpes

[JaneSmith193]

My boyfriend was breaking out all over his body (He was 20 at the time) and as well as it covering his body, face, back, and legs, he had something break out on his genital area as well. The spot on his penis was seemingly worst than the rest of his body but was not the only spot for outbreak.
He went to the doctor and they said that he had Herpes after testing him (swab test) and gave him a medication for Herpes and did not even consider the outbreak on the rest of the body nor answer our questions. However he kept having outbreaks and went to a skin doctor and they told him it was most likely a bad case of chicken pox that had spread throughout the entire body. After his new medication & Aveeno baths, it has completely cleared up and he has never had another problem of the sort.
This was over a year ago and I have no symptoms but I still worry about him and myself.

Is it possible the herpes test that he was given doesn't distinguish between the STD and Herpes Zoster? Should I be worried if he has never had another outbreak or problem after it cleared up?

[gracefromHHP]

also the research you cited is in regards to the herpes igm blood tests, not the lesion cultures of active symptoms.

[gracefromHHP]

the lesion culture of his symptoms would've come back as hsv if it was genital herpes. if it was chicken pox it would've come back as hzv.  Do you recall what his actual lesion culture results were? if he doesn't either, ask for a copy of them so you are sure.

have you had a type specific herpes igg blood test done ?  has he?

grace

[JaneSmith193]

Thank you very much. I have been doing a lot of research and some sources say that the test is definite and others say, " But other times there may be a cross reaction with other herpes viruses such as chicken pox (herpes zoster) or mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus), giving a false positive result."

I definitely appreciate your feedback.

[ranae93]

Well.. if the doctor ran tests on these sore and the results came back as herpes then thats what it is. keep in mind Herpes can spread to any part of the body. What I would do is have your boyfriend go back to the doctor and explain everything and get medical advice.  and It can years for you to have any symptoms. Keep in mind herpes can look like  razor-bumps, a rash, or even a pimple.