I Have What Appear To Be Symptoms Of HSV-2 But Reports Are Negative Should I Be Worried About Herpes

Posted on Fri, 31 Aug 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 Answered on

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I have what appear to be symptoms of HSV-2. I had my first “outbreak” about two months ago. I went and got a blood test and everything came back negative. My doctor said he didn’t know what it was but the tests were negative. This last week I had a much worse, more painful, “outbreak”. I went to my doctor again and he said he was pretty sure it was herpes, but the result came back negative last time because it was too newly introduced to my body. Well, everything came back negative again. What is wrong with me? Could I have these outbreaks and test negative on blood tests twice? What else could it be if not herpes?

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Get your HSV 1 ELISA IgG and IgM

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your complaints and reviewed the attached photographs.
The pictures look like a herpes infection.
You have only got HSV2 IgG ELISA done.
In one-third of the cases, genital herpes can be caused by HSV1.
I would recommend you to get your HSV1 IgG and IgM ELISA done.
I hope to have answered your query and would be happy to answer any further queries.
Regards
Dr Asmeet

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (4 days later)

I also got that test done and it came back negative. I just didn’t add that since it was HSV 1 and the location of my issue. I have gotten both tests done with negative results in both of them.

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Still looking like herpes, take a course of antiviral medicine

Detailed Answer:
It is still looking like herpes.
I would recommend you to take a course of antiviral medicine and see how the lesions respond.
I would recommend you to take tablet aciclovir 400 mg thrice daily for 5 days.
Are you having painful ulcers in your oral cavity or anywhere else on the body?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (3 hours later)

That’s my issue. My doctor was sure twice it was herpes and everything has come back negative. I understand it looks like it, that’s what doctors kept telling me, too. My question is what else could it be if it isn’t? I don’t know how many results need to come back negative before someone tries to come to a different conclusion.

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Other possibility is Behçet's disease

Detailed Answer:
Other possibility is behcet's disease.
It is a chronic disease characterised by recurrent painful erosions and ulcers on the genitilia and oral cavity along with eye symptoms.
Still I feel it looks like herpes.
If it responded to antiviral medication then there are 100 percent chances it is herpes even if the tests are negative.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D