HSV Type 2 on your arm?

[ChrissyNeal]

Hi. My daughter has been diagnosed with HSV Type 2 but it is on her arm. She has never had it on her genitals. She was first diagnosed with singles but now 15 months later it is showing Negative for HSV Type 1 but Low Level Positive for HSV Type 2. The problem is - she first got it on her arm, then on her forehead then on her leg but it is generally on her upper arm. She is getting this more and more - 3 times in the last 5 weeks and each episode is getting worse and bigger blisters. It is very painful for her. She has been referred to a specialist hospital and they keep upping her dose of Acyclovir but it isn't working. She was referred to the genital herpes clinic and they basically sent her away saying they only deal with genital herpes when it is in the genital area. They just tell her to rest, which is all she does. Work and rest so she doesn't get an outbreak but it isn't working. Any advice please................. Thank you x

[TooHip1973]

First things first, how was she diagnosed with HSV2?
Did the doctor do a PCR swab of the blisters?
The arm, leg and forehead would be very, very rare locations for an outbreak. Not impossible since nothing is impossible but HSV2 is transmitted via sexual contact and symptoms usually display themselves at the point of entry (mouth, genitals) or close by.
What blood test was done? An IgG? This is a very good test for HSV2 but not as reliable for HSV1 (missing up to 30% of infections).
If she had an IGM, that test is junk and should never be used to diagnose hsv.
I would not take this as HSV2 unless the area has been swabbed or she had a higher (over 3.5 index value) IgG score.
Please let me know some of these answers and we may be able to assist you better