Primary Oral HSV-1 Infection

[ScaredGuy2]

First of thank you for all your time and efforts you put into helping people on here.

I am a 26/m married and I am afraid I might have contracted HSV-1 orally. On 7/28/10 I was out drinking at a bar with a friend. I was talking to this girl who approached me and we were just talking. I had quite a few drinks and I can remember hugging her before she left but I am afraid I might have kissed her and do not remember. I cannot recall seeing any signs of a cold sore on her lip or anything. On the 4th night after the encounter I developed a sore throat. It was a mild sore throat and it actually felt better after I drank something or after eating something. I did notice some of my lymph nodes were bigger but not tender. It is possible that my sore throat was from sleeping with the AC on, along with the ceiling fan. My sore throat only lasted a few days. Today is the 12th day after possible exposure and I have not had a fever or any blisters that I have noticed. I have had some slight irritation on my upper lip, and chapped lips. But, I have also been licking my lips a lot because I was constantly feeling for a blister or bump. On the 8th day after infection I did go and get a IGM test done. Now, since after getting the test I have read DR. HHH's post about the reliability of the IGM test. The main down fall being the high risk of a false positive and not being type specific. However, I was tested 3 months ago on a IGG ELISA test and both HSV-1 and HSV-2 came back negative. The result of my IGM test that was taken 8 days after possible exposure was <.91, which is negative. If you would please let me know your thoughts about if I could have contracted oral HSV-1. I do not have 3 to 4 months to wait to get tested with a IGG test. My wife is 5 months pregnant.

1.) Give my symptoms - is it a possible HSV-1 Infection?
2.) If I am HSV-1 orally + would it cause a problem to the baby? Neonatal Herpes?
3.) How long after primary infection does a person become contagious?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think you can put the encounter to rest, not because of your IgM but because it was a low risk encounter.  If you want to be most certain, I would recommend an IGG at 3-4 months post encounter.  

Best of luck to you.  This will be my last post on this thread.

Terri

[ScaredGuy2]

Terri,

      Yes my test came back <.91. Which I believe is negative. I have also read that adults turn over to igg faster. Could that be why test was negative?

Also, I have kissed my wife on the couple of days after and she has shown no symptoms.

Also, I have already stopped treatment on my lip.

Should I be able to put this to rest now?

[ScaredGuy2]

Terri,

     Thank you again so much. So I can but this to rest?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The IgM tests that are suspect are those that are positive, in my experience. Yours was negative, not positive, right?
The bump is probably completely normal and I would recommend that you stop treating it.
I think it is not true that only 20% of people with herpes show symptoms.  I would say that a more accurate statement is that only about 20% of people who have herpes, know it.  Many others have symptoms, but they don't recognize them as herpes until they are told their diagnosis.

I think you would have recognized symptoms by now, yes.

Terri

[ScaredGuy2]

Terri,

     Sorry one last question. Given It is 13 days past possible exposure, should I have seen signs by now?

Sorry for another question. Thanks you again for all your time and help in this matter. Have a great day.

[ScaredGuy2]

Terri,
     Thank you very much for you reply. Sorry, but I do have a few more questions.
1.) I took a IGM test 8 days after. Everywhere I read, it says that the IGM test is junk and it should be thrown out. Should I trust it in this case?
2.) I do have a small, very tiny white bump on my upper lip, right on the vermillion border. I saw my GP about it and he said it did not look like herpes. However he prescribe Zovirax. I have noticed this bump for 9 days now and been using the cream for 4 and it has done nothing to it. Does that mean it is not viral? Maybe a fordyce spot?
3.) I have read that only 20 % of people actually show symptomatic symptoms. Why do you feel mine should be quite symptomatic?

Thank you again. Sorry I have more questions. I am just curious, plus it may provide excellent information to someone else in this situation.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

1)  No, your symptoms don't sound anything like a first oral infection in someone who has previously tested negative for HSV 1 and 2.  I would expect, if you contracted a new oral herpes infection, that you would be quite symptomatic - blisters, etc.  I doubt that there would be any question about whether you had herpes symptoms or not.  
2) if, by some freak thing, you did acquire HSV 1 orally and didn't notice it, the only risk to your baby during pregnancy would be if you gave your wife oral sex and transmitted it to your wife genitally.
5) a person is most contagious immediately after acquiring herpes, when there is not yet an immune response to reduce viral sheding.

But again, to me your symptoms don't sound herpetic, and you have negative blood antibody tests to confirm this opinion.  Also, the likely of getting oral hsv 1 from MAYBE kissing someone else is really low.  I know this is scary, but I think the risk you face is very very low.

Terri