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If not Herpes, then...?
Dear community,
I have a question regarding potential diagnoses for symptoms I will list below in a young woman (between 20 and 30 yrs. of age). I am NOT asking for a diagnosis, I know this can't be done here. I am looking for some insight and educated opinions. The subject in question has engaged in sexual intercourse with one partner, using protection on all but one occasions. A year ago She was diagnosed with Genital Herpes (supposedly through contraction of Herpes simplex virus type 2), though the test result came back negative it was assumed to be the false negative that a first test for this infection frequently provides.
Only last week another outbreak occurred, with the symptoms that follow-
headache
Sore throat
infected gum
muscle pains
fever
painful blisters in genital area
She has visited her doctor, who performed a test (blood-work, cultures) for herpes, to ensure that these symptoms were indeed resulting from an outbreak of the virus. However, the tests returned negative, and I am told that another false negative is not possible after this amount of time from the initial diagnosis.
She is awaiting further testing next week, but in the meantime I would like to collect knowledge regarding possible alternate causes, words of advice and prior experience, etc. I have been doing a fair amount of research myself, but I would much prefer actually speaking with someone. I would welcome whatever help you can provide, I want to be the best support I can be for this person.
Thank you very much for the consideration of this question.
-Alejandro
I have a question regarding potential diagnoses for symptoms I will list below in a young woman (between 20 and 30 yrs. of age). I am NOT asking for a diagnosis, I know this can't be done here. I am looking for some insight and educated opinions. The subject in question has engaged in sexual intercourse with one partner, using protection on all but one occasions. A year ago She was diagnosed with Genital Herpes (supposedly through contraction of Herpes simplex virus type 2), though the test result came back negative it was assumed to be the false negative that a first test for this infection frequently provides.
Only last week another outbreak occurred, with the symptoms that follow-
headache
Sore throat
infected gum
muscle pains
fever
painful blisters in genital area
She has visited her doctor, who performed a test (blood-work, cultures) for herpes, to ensure that these symptoms were indeed resulting from an outbreak of the virus. However, the tests returned negative, and I am told that another false negative is not possible after this amount of time from the initial diagnosis.
She is awaiting further testing next week, but in the meantime I would like to collect knowledge regarding possible alternate causes, words of advice and prior experience, etc. I have been doing a fair amount of research myself, but I would much prefer actually speaking with someone. I would welcome whatever help you can provide, I want to be the best support I can be for this person.
Thank you very much for the consideration of this question.
-Alejandro
Thank you very much for taking the time to help me, and for your very prompt and thorough response.
I will ask what specific tests are being used when she returns to her doctor, and see how it goes.
Thanks again for your insight!
Best,
Alejandro
I will ask what specific tests are being used when she returns to her doctor, and see how it goes.
Thanks again for your insight!
Best,
Alejandro
Some of the symptoms don't match up with Herpes in the sense of the gum because that site is not (at least not that we know of) infected.
Sadly we can debate all day long if it is herpes or not. Taking the direction of the doctors is the best bet. But lets talk about some of what was done.
Blood-work if done with proper testing (HSV IGG blood test) will show if the body has the antibodies in the system. The igm test is outdated for herpes testing but the sad thing is some doctors don't know that. So they order that test and it maybe a false positive or negative. The best approach is to get a copy of the testing to see what was actually performed to know which type of test.
Lesision culture is a good test to run when questions come up. When talking about blisters in the genitial area it is best to perform the swab test and either send for a PCR test or culture with typing. The challenge is that the virus for the culture has to be alive. So that does have a high false positive (this is not the case with PCR which requires the virus be present on the swab). So if the patient doesn't show up soon enough sometimes they won't show positive. If symptoms come up the patient needs to be seen within 24-48 hours for the best result on the culture test.
Now blood test also have a flaw in that if the infection is new it takes the body time to develop antibodies. So in this case you don't state when possible exposure is but if it is under 3 months the chance that the test isn't seeing enough anitbody to turn positive. Again this assumes we are using an igg test.
HSV-2 testing is a little better compared to HSV-1 in that its more sensitivie for the anitbodies. If the person has HSV-1 already it may take a little longer for the antibodies to develope to fight the HSV-2. So that should be taken into account as well. If you doubt the blood work the provider if you are in the US can request a western blot test. This test is considered the gold standard for Herpes testing.
The blisters could be anything she needs to work with her doctor and be checked for yeast and bacterial infections. But none the less keep in mind that she needs to work with the doctor.
Sadly we can debate all day long if it is herpes or not. Taking the direction of the doctors is the best bet. But lets talk about some of what was done.
Blood-work if done with proper testing (HSV IGG blood test) will show if the body has the antibodies in the system. The igm test is outdated for herpes testing but the sad thing is some doctors don't know that. So they order that test and it maybe a false positive or negative. The best approach is to get a copy of the testing to see what was actually performed to know which type of test.
Lesision culture is a good test to run when questions come up. When talking about blisters in the genitial area it is best to perform the swab test and either send for a PCR test or culture with typing. The challenge is that the virus for the culture has to be alive. So that does have a high false positive (this is not the case with PCR which requires the virus be present on the swab). So if the patient doesn't show up soon enough sometimes they won't show positive. If symptoms come up the patient needs to be seen within 24-48 hours for the best result on the culture test.
Now blood test also have a flaw in that if the infection is new it takes the body time to develop antibodies. So in this case you don't state when possible exposure is but if it is under 3 months the chance that the test isn't seeing enough anitbody to turn positive. Again this assumes we are using an igg test.
HSV-2 testing is a little better compared to HSV-1 in that its more sensitivie for the anitbodies. If the person has HSV-1 already it may take a little longer for the antibodies to develope to fight the HSV-2. So that should be taken into account as well. If you doubt the blood work the provider if you are in the US can request a western blot test. This test is considered the gold standard for Herpes testing.
The blisters could be anything she needs to work with her doctor and be checked for yeast and bacterial infections. But none the less keep in mind that she needs to work with the doctor.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
