HSV2

[sumeet411]

15.8: Had a sexual encounter
22.8: start of symptoms (scalp itching, burning feeling in legs,arms, discomfort, felt like insect bites)
31.8: 1st Elisa non type specific antibody test, igm and igg were negative after 2 and a half weeks
12.9: new symptoms (buttock pain that will last for weeks, little pain can still be felt 3 and a half months later),  Eye allergy with burning feeling in both eyes
20.9: Diagnosed with Anal Fissure . Pain radiated to genitals (although anal fissure healed, anus/rectum is still red and pain can be felt in genital area until today though much less than it used to be)
30.9: 2nd Elisa non type specific antibody test, igm and igg both negative after 6 and a half weeks
14.11: 3rd Elise non type specific antibody test, igg negative after 13 weeks (3 Months)
17.11: on upper front left thigh rash and 5 red spots near each other erupt. Some started to dry after 3-4 days (white dried skin around three spots).  Doctor diagnosed them as Eczema

Current Health condition: Still feel little burning feeling in anus/rectum occasingly, still feel little burning pain in genitals, still feel in thighs insect bite sensation, (Symtoms probably due to anxiety: night discomfort, dry thristy in the morning, (pain between eyes and eyes burn and get red, eye skin irritation probably due to allegry), need to urinate often during night. In other words life has not been the same since 22.8.

Question: Given the history of events and a negative 13 week test and current health condition, what are the chances that i have contracted HSV-2 and do I need to take another elisa antobody test at week 16 or later?
They only do non type specific elisa test at hospitals in my location.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  If I were caring for you I would not be testing you with blood tests.  Instead, I would take cultures or PCR tests from lesions.  In the absence of lesions, I woul urge you not to worry as the sorts of symptoms you describe are quite non-specific and are much, much more likely to be due to something other than HSV than to be a manifestation of HSV.  Anxiety and focused attention on such signs is one possible cause of the sorts of symptoms you are experiencing.

At this time. you antibody tests make it still more unlikely that you acquired HSV from the sexual encounter you describe.  My advice would be to stop worrying bout HSV at this time. You certainly do not need more antibody tests, particularly non-specific ones.  EWH

[sumeet411]

Respectable Doctor,

Thank you for your answer. I do agree with your advice and will try my best to act on it.  I am indeed a very anxious person. My only worry is the anal fissue and the long lasting buttock pain which caused and is still causing me great worry. I have extremely low vitamin D, low testerone and have had mono in the past and am not sure if those findings could be the reason for the problems.
Thank you again.