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Need help with Test Results and Syptoms
I believe that my children may have been exposed to HSV1 by a relative. About a week after the possible exposure, my three year old had a fever for one night. After about 10 days she developed a red spot on her lip that never appeared to blister and resolved in 5-6 days. We took her to a dermatologist but the spot was already gone. He was not concerned (we were) but wrote out orders for a lab test if we wanted to do it.
4-5 times in the last 4 1/2 months, my daughter has gotten a red mark on her lip. It starts off a little red and by day two, it usually looks like a thin red paper cut or a red spot. It usually disappears by day two or three. She sometimes will say that her lip hurts when the redness appears.
My three year old routinely bites her nails so I think that is a possibility. We had her tested anyway.
The HSV IGM AB Screen said "Detected" but the reference range said "Not Detected". and the HSV IGM AB Titer range was <1:10.
The HSV 1/2 IGG, Herpeselect Type Specific AB showed <0.90 for Type 1 & 2. The explanation of test results says that this would be a negative.
Questions:
1) Does it sound like my three year old has HSV1? Is this test accurate for a three year old?
2) Could these red marks be herpes outbreaks that are mild and heal quickly?
3) If these symptoms sound like herpes, is it possible that she may get symptoms at this stage in her life and not get them anymore in a year? Five years? Etc?
4) Can kids be given antivirals safely? We are having a third child soon and want to prevent the spread to the baby.
4-5 times in the last 4 1/2 months, my daughter has gotten a red mark on her lip. It starts off a little red and by day two, it usually looks like a thin red paper cut or a red spot. It usually disappears by day two or three. She sometimes will say that her lip hurts when the redness appears.
My three year old routinely bites her nails so I think that is a possibility. We had her tested anyway.
The HSV IGM AB Screen said "Detected" but the reference range said "Not Detected". and the HSV IGM AB Titer range was <1:10.
The HSV 1/2 IGG, Herpeselect Type Specific AB showed <0.90 for Type 1 & 2. The explanation of test results says that this would be a negative.
Questions:
1) Does it sound like my three year old has HSV1? Is this test accurate for a three year old?
2) Could these red marks be herpes outbreaks that are mild and heal quickly?
3) If these symptoms sound like herpes, is it possible that she may get symptoms at this stage in her life and not get them anymore in a year? Five years? Etc?
4) Can kids be given antivirals safely? We are having a third child soon and want to prevent the spread to the baby.
Actually jess got her info from me and I got it from a journal article that covered herpes testing in children - can look to see if I can find it again if you want me to forward it to you. The only blood test that was accurate in young children is no longer on the market according to the article. Also it was confirmed by either dr wald or dr morrow - forget which one confirmed it when the topic came up on another board and our mutual friend made some inquiries to confirm what we thought.
grace
grace
Thank you for your help. The blood test was done 3 1/2 months post exposure. Your comments are reassuring!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw those comments. The discussion about test performance in children might have confused test reliability with regulatory approval. Probably it is true that HerpeSelect and other type-specific HSV tests have not been studied in children and therefore don't have FDA approval for such use. However, that doesn't mean the results would be unreliable, only that the manufacturer hasn't proved it one way or the other. Most likely the results are reliable in 3 year olds. In much younger childen (i.e., newborns), many antibody tests perform poorly, but I don't think it's likely to be an issue beyond 1 year of age. However, in the absence of data, and not being a pediatrician, I can't give you an absolute answer about it.
Thanks Dr. Handsfield. I know that my obsession with this is unhealthy and I am working on it. I was confused by the study results and a previous poster who advised that the tests that were done are unreliable on a child.
Can you offer an opinion on the reliability of tests on children?
Sorry for the inappropriate post.
Can you offer an opinion on the reliability of tests on children?
Sorry for the inappropriate post.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I meant to also say that the blood test result do not suggest your daughter has herpes.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is an STD forum. Oral herpes and HSV-1 in children are not STD issues. And you have had pretty much accurate responses on the STD and herpes community forums.
In any case, who cares if your children were exposed to HSV-1 by a relative or anyone else? Half of all Americans, and 80+% in many countries, acquire HSV-1 in childhood, mostly from other infected children or from an adult.
1,2) The symptoms you describe don't sound like herpes. But it doesn't much matter whether she has it or not. If she does, it isn't a significant threat to her health, and it is normal to have it. And it's an easy issue to prevent later transmission to a newborn. The pediatrician in charge of your daughter's care, and a future newborn's care, can be trusted to advise you on this.
3) If she has herpes, she may or may not have symptoms later in her life. Most infected people do not have recurrent cold sores.
4) Antiherpetic drugs generally are not given to kids unless they have particularly severe manifestations. This is a question for your daughter's pediatrician, if s/he makes a diagnosis of herpes.
You seem to be on a seriously unhealthy track here -- and I don't mean with respect to herpes. I mean your emotional health and especially your child's emotional health. Parental overreaction to children's trivial health problems can set them on a psychologically unhealthy path.
I suggest you raise your concerns once -- and only once -- with the pediatrician (not a dermatologist). Then follow the pediatrician's advice. If s/he also says that this is nothing to worry about -- as I am sure s/he will -- believe it and follow the advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
In any case, who cares if your children were exposed to HSV-1 by a relative or anyone else? Half of all Americans, and 80+% in many countries, acquire HSV-1 in childhood, mostly from other infected children or from an adult.
1,2) The symptoms you describe don't sound like herpes. But it doesn't much matter whether she has it or not. If she does, it isn't a significant threat to her health, and it is normal to have it. And it's an easy issue to prevent later transmission to a newborn. The pediatrician in charge of your daughter's care, and a future newborn's care, can be trusted to advise you on this.
3) If she has herpes, she may or may not have symptoms later in her life. Most infected people do not have recurrent cold sores.
4) Antiherpetic drugs generally are not given to kids unless they have particularly severe manifestations. This is a question for your daughter's pediatrician, if s/he makes a diagnosis of herpes.
You seem to be on a seriously unhealthy track here -- and I don't mean with respect to herpes. I mean your emotional health and especially your child's emotional health. Parental overreaction to children's trivial health problems can set them on a psychologically unhealthy path.
I suggest you raise your concerns once -- and only once -- with the pediatrician (not a dermatologist). Then follow the pediatrician's advice. If s/he also says that this is nothing to worry about -- as I am sure s/he will -- believe it and follow the advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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.
