Whitlow?

Have had hsv2 for 25 years.  Female.  No outbreaks for 5 or 6 years.
Now have 5 pimple like eruptions on my right hand -- one on underside of wrist, two below knuckle of second finger, one on lower part of index finger, one on lower part of thumb.  They just appeared suddenly -- do not itch, but did have a little fluid.  Hurt a bit if i press on them  but  otherwise would not know they were there.

My question -- after 25 years could i have whitlow on my hand if i never had it there before?  Not near a cuticle or anything.  Did i infect myself from my initial outbreak25 years ago from inserting medicine into my vaginal area?  Has the virus been sitting in the nerve endings of my hand/fingers just waiting to pop out?

I am so worried that i could have infected my grandchild before i noticed these things.   Please reply!  Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

if they don't itch or hurt like a s.o.b, odds are they aren't herpes or shingles related at all.

[bobrope45]

It would be highly unlikely for you to develop whitlow 25 years after initial infection with HSV2. If you still have symptoms, be seen by a dermatologist to get an answer. This could be a number of things,really.

[gracefromHHP]

I agree, odds are this is something non-herpes going on.   It could be many things from a bacterial infection, contact dermatitis etc.

do you do needle point or quilting or anything by chance?

grace

[Lucysbrother]

Ok thanks.  

[Lucysbrother]

No, no needlepoint.  Saw a doc today, he didnt think there was enough to do a culture.   Could possibly be a mild shingles episode ?  The bumps are small and do seem to have a center point.  They dont itch at all which seems to rule out bug bites or any type of dermatitis.

[Lucysbrother]

Thanks.  It does seem to be a stretch for that to occur so long after the initial episode.

[manalone]

Did you doctor think it is a herpes?

[gracefromHHP]

if they don't itch or hurt like a s.o.b, odds are they aren't herpes or shingles related at all.

[Lucysbrother]

Doc had no clue really
Wasnt my reg doc
He said it was possibly herpetic related and prescribed valtrex in case of shingles or whitlow... Nurse thought it could be shingles when she looked at it but she didnt know i have hsv2.  
I am really looking to understand how hsv behaves as it doesnt seem it would pop out on my hand if it has never been there before and i am unaware that i have even had an outbreak for at least 5 years.  Menopause pretty much ended it....

[Lucysbrother]

No itching at all
Didnt notice them at all until i bumped my finger
Tender to touch
Small heads and slight leakage
Started healing next day but for one
Dont look much like the pics of whitlow but then hsv2 is so different among individuals

[gracefromHHP]

whitlow on that wide of a hand area wouldn't be typical either.  I've never had it but the couple of people I do know who have it say it isn't something you could not be miserable from.

if this reoccurs, see a dermatologist as soon as it starts.

[Lucysbrother]

Just noticed i have a new bump next to the one on the base of my thumb.  Will try and see a derm doc today.  Thanks for your help.

[manalone]

Did you see derm.?

I hope everything is fine.

[manalone]

Did u have any blood test for herpes before?

[Lucysbrother]

Derm appt thursday morning....
Cant recall if i had a blood test but there was no doubt at all.  Terrible first episode and was in a relatinship with someone who had it.....
Took aclyovir by the handful....

[manalone]

I think the better to test to be sure.

[manalone]

You may do not have herpes at all.

[Lucysbrother]

Saw derm doc today-- one i have been going to for a long time, so i trust him... Anyway, he thinks the bumps are plant bases, which makes sense because i was helping clean up a plant sale on saturday. So a big relief.
Thanks for all your help.  This is a great site.

[gracefromHHP]

glad you got better answers :)

[Lucysbrother]

Me too ! Thanks grace!

[Lucysbrother]

Hi Grace.  Me again.   I read that hsv will always generally occur near the site of the original infection, that the virus will take the path of least resistance --Is this correct?  If so, then it would seem a million to one odds that my hsv 2 could have the gumption to suddenly break out on my hand in places where there would not have been any original entry points.  I am just trying to be smarter about this, and i am a skilled worrier as well.  
Thanks you again.  

[petal130]

Sounds like you're convinced your hand symptoms are HSV2, contrary to what Grace has stated and your dermatologist. We get many folks who don't believe the evidence, but not much we can do to help you with that. Consider a mental health professional if you can't overcome the thought that this is whitlow.

As to your question, if you have genital herpes, it recurs typically in the same area but can anywhere in the boxer short area.

Autoinoculation is very rare outside of an initial episode. You can read Dr. Hook's take on this here, where he states "I have never seen such a case on over 30 years of STD-focused practice and research."
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Auto-Inoculation/show/1364734

[Lucysbrother]

Ok thanks
I am a worry wart plus my derm saw it 4 dys post event.  

[gracefromHHP]

herpes won't travel through your body to cause lesions on the hands. lesions anywhere below the waist would be expected, anywhere else, not likely herpes.

I know one gal who had hsv2 for many years and did manage to transmit it to her hands. she was an avid quilter and a nurse so her hands were overly dry ( we have to wash our hands a zillion times a day at work so generally they resemble sand paper in the winter ) and she had poked her fingers repeatedly with needles with her quilting. she certainly was the exception to the rule and I tell you only to let you know that yeah it can happen but odds are it won't.  I know I've never managed to do it and at one point I had 20 ob's a year so obviously it's not very easy to do.

hope that helps a little :)

[Lucysbrother]

Thanks grace.  All is well now.  About 4-5 days after my bumps appeared my grandchild came down with flu symptoms which kind of worried me, but it was just the flu and i know from what you have said and what i have read that my hand bumps wern't whitlow.  Thanks again!

[gracefromHHP]

everyone seems to be sick lately :(