Fingering a girl with genital herpes with a cut

[drogba2020]

Hello,

     I am quite concerned.  On Sunday I suffered a small cut to my finger.  Monday night I went out with a girl who has genital herpes.  We did not have sex, but I fingered her.  Afterwards I noticed the cut looked sort of "open" per se.  I also got some of her vaginal fluid, and possibly touched her vagina with and on on my lower thigh/upper knee area.  

Am I at risk for infection through the open cut or the thigh?  If the cut heals, then would that mean that no disease transfered?  There were no open sores or anything like that.  

Much appreciated.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

In theory, there probably is some potential risk of your catching HSV of your finger.  But it is too low to measure or to worry about.  In 35 years in the STD business, I have never seen or even heard of such a case.  If you develop soreness or blister-like lesions around the area of the cut in the next couple of weeks, see a health care provider.  But almost certainly it won't happen.  If it doesn't, just forget this whole episode.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[drogba2020]

Any ideas on the vaginal fluid on the thigh?

[drogba2020]

Also, thanks!  One more thing, any risk of herpetic whitlow?

[gracefromHHP]

It's not the vaginal fluid that is the issue as much as the direct skin on skin contact with someone - you know when you are naked and dry humping, messing around, outercourse or whatever you prefer to call it.  You are still more likely to transmit herpes with actual sex but you don't need actual penetration for it to occur.  

Herpetic whitlow is just the official name for when you get herpes on the fingers/hands which is what HHH was talking about when he answered your question.

If this gal didn't have any active symptoms your risk was pretty low. Even lower yet if she's on daily suppressive therapy. Do you know if she has hsv1 or hsv2 genitally? Have you ever had a herpes blood test yourself to know your own status?

grace

[t1234]

Unless I developed symptoms on my finger, I would just move on.

Even if you get Herpes Whitlow from HSV-2 (herpes on your finger) you wouldn't have it genitally.  In that case you would test positive for HSV-2
via a serological test, but you still wouldn't have genital herpes.

I think serological testing "just to know your status" is a bad idea.  
The following is from the US Department of Health & Human Services
so I think I can just post it.  But for those interested you can go to

http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm and check it out for yourself.


•The USPSTF recommends against routine serological screening for HSV in asymptomatic adolescents and adults.
Rating: D Recommendation.
Rationale: The USPSTF found no evidence that screening asymptomatic adolescents and adults with serological tests for HSV antibody improves health outcomes or symptoms or reduces transmission of disease. There is good evidence that serological screening tests can accurately identify those persons who have been exposed to HSV. There is good evidence that antiviral therapy improves health outcomes in symptomatic persons (e.g., those with multiple recurrences); however, there is no evidence that the use of antiviral therapy improves health outcomes in those with asymptomatic infection. The potential harms of screening include false-positive test results, labeling, and anxiety, although there is limited evidence of any potential harms of either screening or treatment. The USPSTF determined the benefits of screening are minimal, at best, and the potential harms outweigh the potential benefits.

There are a lot of people walking around thinking they have herpes because
of false positives.  If you do test, I would strongly recommend a confirming
test if you come up positive.

[Englishman]

As far as I am aware, even if you get a herpetic whitlow, this will make you immune to catching HSV-2 genitally. There has been previous discussion about whether immunity is provided. No clear answer has been given, possibly because it may encourage purposeful infection as a method of innoculation.

[drogba2020]

Ahh help!  

Now my stool has become soft and I have mild constipation.  Would these be symptoms of herpes?  If so,w ould they occur before the outbreak?

Thanks so much!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Good grief.  People get variations in stool consistency all the time.  Of course it's not a herpes symptom.  Why would you even suspect it has anything to do with fingering someone??  Your overreaction is beyond reason; it's time to cool it.  Presumably you came to this forum for reassurance.  I gave it to you.  Stop trying to talk me (and yourself) into believing you caught something.  You did not.

This thread is over.

[S0M30N3]

A related discussion, GETTING INFECTED was started.

[cheer123]

A related discussion, just found i have herpes was started.