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HSV Type 2, pregnancy and whitlow
Hello,
Both my wife and I have HSV2 (both from well before we met). My wife is 19 weeks pregnant. She has had several outbreaks so far and has been on valtrex (500mg) for daily suppression for about 2 weeks. She had a small outbreak about 7 days ago that healed in about 4 days. Yesterday she was concerned that she accidentally touched the area (which she tells me is still tender but with no blisters) with a small cut on her finger and/or a pulled quick on her nail (not sure - for arguments sake lets say both). She washed her hands vigorously straight away but is concerned about autoinnoculation with a herpes whitlow on her fingers. I have done a lot of reading to reassure her that this is unlikely but she is still scared. She has told me that getting a whitlow is not her concern in relation to herself, but the risk to our son.
Although she has had this virus for many years, if she were to somehow autoinnoculate and get a whitlow on her finger, is this like a new or primary infection and therefore a risk for the baby? Is it in a different nerve area to the genital outbreaks and thus considered a new infection? If it entered through the cuts will it enter her blood stream or be limited to the nerve cycle? When would we know? If she doesn't get a whitlow in a few weeks can she let this go?
Like I have read, I think this is unlikely as it is her own virus, but she is very worried about the baby and I would like some expert guidance to ease her mind. Thank you very much for your time.
Both my wife and I have HSV2 (both from well before we met). My wife is 19 weeks pregnant. She has had several outbreaks so far and has been on valtrex (500mg) for daily suppression for about 2 weeks. She had a small outbreak about 7 days ago that healed in about 4 days. Yesterday she was concerned that she accidentally touched the area (which she tells me is still tender but with no blisters) with a small cut on her finger and/or a pulled quick on her nail (not sure - for arguments sake lets say both). She washed her hands vigorously straight away but is concerned about autoinnoculation with a herpes whitlow on her fingers. I have done a lot of reading to reassure her that this is unlikely but she is still scared. She has told me that getting a whitlow is not her concern in relation to herself, but the risk to our son.
Although she has had this virus for many years, if she were to somehow autoinnoculate and get a whitlow on her finger, is this like a new or primary infection and therefore a risk for the baby? Is it in a different nerve area to the genital outbreaks and thus considered a new infection? If it entered through the cuts will it enter her blood stream or be limited to the nerve cycle? When would we know? If she doesn't get a whitlow in a few weeks can she let this go?
Like I have read, I think this is unlikely as it is her own virus, but she is very worried about the baby and I would like some expert guidance to ease her mind. Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you Doctor. Hopefully this will ease her mind and we can go back to enjoying the pregnancy!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1. Is your guidance still the case if she touched a minor break in the skin directly onto an infected area (rather than her finger and THEN onto another area) noting that she washed her hands immediately after and there were no blisters (maybe some red skin)?
Yes
2. I have read that autoinnoculation can occur - is this usually with a primary infection?
Correct or with unusal situations such as plastic surgical procedures.
3. With medical workers seemingly at higher risk of herpes whitlow, is this related to not being infected and THEN getting infected by someone else, not themselves?
Correct.
4. Will her body still fight off this possible infection even if her immune system is lower due to pregnancy?
Correct
5. If it DID occur, is it a recurrent infection or a primary one - her main concern?
Recurrence
Take care. EWH
Yes
2. I have read that autoinnoculation can occur - is this usually with a primary infection?
Correct or with unusal situations such as plastic surgical procedures.
3. With medical workers seemingly at higher risk of herpes whitlow, is this related to not being infected and THEN getting infected by someone else, not themselves?
Correct.
4. Will her body still fight off this possible infection even if her immune system is lower due to pregnancy?
Correct
5. If it DID occur, is it a recurrent infection or a primary one - her main concern?
Recurrence
Take care. EWH
Thank you Dr. Your help is welcomed. Yes, our doctors are aware and we understand what needs to happen when our son is born.
Just to check, if that is ok.
1. Is your guidance still the case if she touched a minor break in the skin directly onto an infected area (rather than her finger and THEN onto another area) noting that she washed her hands immediately after and there were no blisters (maybe some red skin)?
2. I have read that autoinnoculation can occur - is this usually with a primary infection?
3. With medical workers seemingly at higher risk of herpes whitlow, is this related to not being infected and THEN getting infected by someone else, not themselves?
4. Will her body still fight off this possible infection even if her immune system is lower due to pregnancy?
5. If it DID occur, is it a recurrent infection or a primary one - her main concern?
Sorry for the numbered questions. It seems very demanding! I am just trying to arm myself with as much info as possible as my wife is quite stressed about this and will still ask questions.
Thanks again.
Just to check, if that is ok.
1. Is your guidance still the case if she touched a minor break in the skin directly onto an infected area (rather than her finger and THEN onto another area) noting that she washed her hands immediately after and there were no blisters (maybe some red skin)?
2. I have read that autoinnoculation can occur - is this usually with a primary infection?
3. With medical workers seemingly at higher risk of herpes whitlow, is this related to not being infected and THEN getting infected by someone else, not themselves?
4. Will her body still fight off this possible infection even if her immune system is lower due to pregnancy?
5. If it DID occur, is it a recurrent infection or a primary one - her main concern?
Sorry for the numbered questions. It seems very demanding! I am just trying to arm myself with as much info as possible as my wife is quite stressed about this and will still ask questions.
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. I'll be pleased to comment and hopefully the reassurance that I am about to provide will be helpful. When a person gets a herpes infection (HSV-1 or -2) they develop an immune response which helps to keep the infection in check. This is the reason that recurrences then to be less severe than initial attacks and is also the reason that autoinoculation of infection through casual activities such as touching does not occur. The touching of a recurrent area and then an area not involve will not lead to inoculation of infection at new sites. your wife will not develop infection at the new site and should not worry about this.
I understand that when one is pregnant one becomes worried more about the unborn child than one's self. Your wife needs to make sure her OB is aware that she has HSV but should not worry about spreading infection from one part of her body to another.
I hope this comment is helpful. EWH
I understand that when one is pregnant one becomes worried more about the unborn child than one's self. Your wife needs to make sure her OB is aware that she has HSV but should not worry about spreading infection from one part of her body to another.
I hope this comment is helpful. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
