herpes whitlow

[hypochondriacism]

Hello. Thank you for all of your work and public service. I have a couple of questions I apologiize if they've been answered before.

I work in healthcare ad recently was touching a patients lower back/sacrum without barrier protection. After contact she told me she was experiencing what felt like herpes prodrome in the area I had touched. In subsequent follow ups, no outbreak occured innpatient. My concern is contracting herpetic whitlow. A week after contact I started experiencing numbness and an odd sensation on my fingertip. I immediately started famciclovir the next day (8 days post potential exposure) My finger still feels numb/ slightly cold/ very mildly swollen with red spots and hyperaensitivity at the tip (havent been touching anything with that finger) which is 1.5 weeks. I got a fever a few days ago which was 1 week after I felt potential symptoms and 2 weeks post potential exposure. My stomach is also sensitive and my glands on ipsilateral side were swollen the same time my finger started feeling off. I did bloodwork which will be a baseline of "what do I have currently" having never had lesions and havin tested negative for both 1/2 several years back. Im in a holding zone (of paranoia). Everyone thinks contracting it was unlikely. Im a little terrified and dont know why else my finger would feel weird. It seems long for a prodromal but perhaps the famciclovir kept things at bay. I took 500 mg 2x day for a week.
My questions: Do you think contractions was possible (anything possible!) I didnt have cuts on my hands.

and

If I test my blood in 4 months and it is negative: will that mean I do not have herpes ? Does the body need an outbreak to develop antibodies. If the fever was unrelated: can I trust a negative test 4 months out.
So far Im using barriers with everything now.
If I do get a positive test but no lesions I wont know if its my finger or elsewhere!
Thank you for your expertise!
-hypo

[gracefromHHP]

it's not likely you contracted whitlow from this at all. I'd start with your regular provider for follow up at this point.

have you ever tested for herpes before this?

[hypochondriacism]

thanks grace.
if i never get an outbreak will bloodwork be accurate in 4 mos? (is an outbreak required for antibodies)
who should i consult for a follow up?
i do not bite my nails etc.

[gracefromHHP]

i was not online for a day.. sometimes that whole work thing gets in the way of volunteer work.

I see Terri has been too busy to get to your post on her forum too.

typically the skin on our hands is too thick for the virus to infect. if you bite your finger nails/cuticles or have open wounds on your hands, you should never be touching patients without gloves on.

  since you never had obvious lesions and started famvir, too late for any accurate herpes diagnosis.  since you are still having symptoms, be seen for further work up.

grace

[hypochondriacism]

it said a follow was here. i dont see it here or in any of my posts.