Worried About Spreading HSV-2 To Other Body Parts

[Lilan123]

Hi, I was diagnosed with HSV-2 two months ago. Since my initial outbreak I have had 2 others, very minor, just itching, and a small pimple that does not blister. Whenever I feel itching or tingling I use Valtrex for two days and then stop. These last two months have been a mental hassle for me in terms of the paranoia I have about spreading the virus to my hands, eyes, and just body in general.

I always wash my hands after using the bathroom, but my concern is when I am showering and I know I have symptoms. For instance, I wore shoes while going out for an evening, and came home with an open blister because the friction on the shoes irritated my skin from walking all around the city. When I took a shower the night I got home, I kept my leg lifted the entire time so as not to spread the virus from the vagina as the soap went down my leg. I sound like a complete and utter nut job that needs to seek counseling but I am just worried.

I have seen no information about how likely it is to spread HSV-2 to other parts aside from not touching your eyes after touching the infected area, but what if the area is not infected, and I am just shedding without realizing? Can I spread it then if i touch myself down there? What if I cut my hand one day, and I obviously need to wash myself, do I use gloves? If I scratch myself over my underwear, can I possibly spread the virus to my hand since skin cells shed and may land under my nail or in my skin? If I masturbate while shedding without knowing can I spread it to my hands?

I realize I have a ton of questions in one, but I just need some reassurance that I am really my own worst enemy and I am overreacting. Please help, thanks!

[fivestar3]

Hello,

3 days ago, I was visually diagnosed with genital herpes and I am only about a week into my first outbreak. I'm getting a blood test in a day to confirm all the details but naturally, I'm worried sick. I'm really concerned about spreading it to other parts of my body (especially the eyes since I rub them all the time).

1.Can I spread it to my fingers from scratching the area over top of my boxers or adjusting them?

2. If I wash my hands with regular soap after touching my genitals, am I protected from spreading it through my fingers/towels? How about washing genitals with soap and then drying them with a towel? Should I just have a seperate towel for my genitals when shower?

3. Before I knew what it was and before I went to the doctor, I convinced myself it was folliculitis. That day, I put generic neosporin all over the bumps, rubbing it in and whatnot. I washed my hands but not meticulously. I then remember rubbing my eyes. I thought that maybe I had gotten some neosporin in the corner of my eye and continued to rub it. Again, I did not know about the dangers of spreading genital herpes to other parts of my body at the time, especially the eyes. What are the chances that this incident will cause occular herpes?

4. How long does it take to notice the initial symptoms of occular herpes? And what are they?


Thank you in advance!

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Once a person has a nice strong immune response built up (an index value of greater than 3.5), it is extremely unlikely that the virus would be passed to a new location on the body.  I would put that worry away completely.

Terri

[lulusmith]

Hi terri,
I have had hsv 2 for over 10yrs and currently had an outbreak and touch the sore and a few moments after had a cigarette not realizing I didn't wash my hands. However I did use hand santizer but I'm so nervous that I transmitted the virus to my mouth. I hope I'm just being paranoid but is it possible now that I have transfer the virus to my mouth?

[boobooquemierda93]

hi, i hve the same concerns with her. i was diagnosed monday with genital herpes. but i'm confused and i'm now reading that it could spread to my fingers and eyes and mouth and nose. this sucks... i'm afriad to touch my own body, i'm crying right now and i'm afraid to touch my eyes to wipe it lol.. would i hve to use gloves to bathe??? an what if my hands get cut and i dont even know, i dont know how i'm gonna live with this.. my results stated.. hsv 2 IgG  5.00 Positive
hsv 1/2 IGM 2.09 positive

hsv 1 IGM  IFA not detected
hsv 2 IGM  IFA weakly detected

how long does this mean i hve it?? the doctor said i may hve had it alil while... how long is a lil while.. how do i bathe... i dont want it to spread..should i wear gloves all the time through out the day???

[boobooquemierda93]

hi, i hve the same concerns with her. i was diagnosed monday with genital herpes. but i'm confused and i'm now reading that it could spread to my fingers and eyes and mouth and nose. this sucks... i'm afriad to touch my own body, i'm crying right now and i'm afraid to touch my eyes to wipe it lol.. would i hve to use gloves to bathe??? an what if my hands get cut and i dont even know, i dont know how i'm gonna live with this.. my results stated.. hsv 2 IgG  5.00 Positive
hsv 1/2 IGM 2.09 positive

hsv 1 IGM  IFA not detected
hsv 2 IGM  IFA weakly detected

how long does this mean i hve it?? the doctor said i may hve had it alil while... how long is a lil while.. how do i bathe... i dont want it to spread..should i wear gloves all the time through out the day???

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Just get a copy of your test results and post them exactly as you see them on this page and I will interpret them for you, be happy to.

Terri

[Lilan123]

Based on what she told me, I have HSV-2, as far as the IgG test, I believe she did that one as well. I do not have the results. I just trusted her judgement ,and her knowledge and understanding of test result interpretation so I didn't question anything, since I had no clue about my condition.

I got diagnosed only 2 months ago... but based on what you are saying, I think perhaps going to an std clinic is needed, so that maybe they can interpret my results, and give me more concrete info...

thanks a lot terri!!! I appreciate it :)

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

First of all, IgM does not necessarily indicate new infection.  Fully one third of people who have a recurrence make IgM, so that's kind of very old information and inaccurate.  Is your HSV type 1 or 2?  I'm concerned that if she made the error of doing IgM testing that she also may not have typed your virus?  Also, we really don't have any idea how long you've been infected unless you also had an IgG test - did you?  Do you know the value of the results?  

If you've had the virus for at least four months, you have mounted a good immune response..  That immune response keeps you from spreading the virus to a new location on your body.  So yes, you are being paranoid (though I hate to say that since it sounds judgmental) but you did first.  Let's just say you are worrying without cause.  

Terri

[Lilan123]

My gynecologist did a swab test and sent it in for testing and it came back positive for genital herpes. She did however tell me that I had an m antibody, which means that the infection was new, and was recently contracted. I was diagnosed a month and a half ago.

As far as the situation of my infection, I had one outbreak, a small pimple, that came out when I was menstruating. I took Valtrex for 2 weeks and it went away. Since then I have had 2 more periods, and each time I get symptoms of itching, and a small pimple that surfaces but never actually turns into a sore. I take Valtrex for a day or two and it goes away.

But in between the days I am period free I seem to be fine and do not take Valtrex. I am scared that one way or another, when I wash myself, or I wipe myself, I will somehow transfer the hsv-2 to my hands, or anywhere else for that matter. I do wash my hands after I use the bathroom, but when I wash myself during my period for instance I worry that I will even transfer it through the blood. I think I am being paranoid, but the questions I asked before are what I worry about all the time with my current situation.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I don't have enough information to answer your questions.
How were you diagnosed?  What was the situation of your infection?  How long have you been infected?  Please answer these questions, then I can answer yours, OK?

Terri