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What Is The Difference Between HSV-1 And HSV-2?
Question: I am a RN and I am currently taking a training in STD. I am confused about HSV-1, HSV-2 and Shingles.
I am a 50 y.o and had four men in my life. Although, between men #3 and men #4 there was years without sexual activities, I nevertheless, developed a rash on my left buttock along the sciatic nerve, which has reoccurred every year for the first four first years and then it slowed down to happen once every 6 years, if even that. In the beginning while working in hospital, I showed the breakout to a nurse and she said it was shingles. Then at another breakout, I went to see the ER MD while I was working, because I was freaking out. He told me it was just a small herpes like the one the boxers get on there back and there was nothing to panic about. Today, I am confused, as I am told that a women can have vaginal herpes and never have had a vaginal lesion but rather a lesion on the buttock. Even if this was the case, should the rash on my butt had breakout when I was having sexual activities. None of my partners had herpes. I had chicken pox when I was 20 y.o and the only think I can remember is french-kissing a men between men#3 and #4. When I look at picture, my rash look like shingles. Please can you tell me what you think and what exactly should I do to find out. Thank you.
Except for french kissing a men.
I am a 50 y.o and had four men in my life. Although, between men #3 and men #4 there was years without sexual activities, I nevertheless, developed a rash on my left buttock along the sciatic nerve, which has reoccurred every year for the first four first years and then it slowed down to happen once every 6 years, if even that. In the beginning while working in hospital, I showed the breakout to a nurse and she said it was shingles. Then at another breakout, I went to see the ER MD while I was working, because I was freaking out. He told me it was just a small herpes like the one the boxers get on there back and there was nothing to panic about. Today, I am confused, as I am told that a women can have vaginal herpes and never have had a vaginal lesion but rather a lesion on the buttock. Even if this was the case, should the rash on my butt had breakout when I was having sexual activities. None of my partners had herpes. I had chicken pox when I was 20 y.o and the only think I can remember is french-kissing a men between men#3 and #4. When I look at picture, my rash look like shingles. Please can you tell me what you think and what exactly should I do to find out. Thank you.
Except for french kissing a men.
Brief Answer:
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
HSV-1 is oral herpes, primarily around the mouth.
HSV-2 is genital herpes, commonly on the genitals.
However, touching the genital or oral herpes lesions with the hand can transport it to other parts of the body. This is why HSV1 and HSV2 are easily transferred by the hands from one part of the body to another.
Shingles develop in persons who have had chicken pox before. When the immune system is weak, especially in the elderly or persons with illnesses that weaken the immune system, this recurs as shingles. Shingles follow a well defined dermatome(nerve area) and never cross the midline of the body.
I will like to have an image of this rash. It would be very helpful to tell whether it is suggestive of herpes or rather suggestive of shingles. Though it would be difficult to talk of recurrent herpes lesions if you never had a well documented primary lesion and the buttocks is not the primary site be it for recurrence or primary herpes.
Also, Unless you have another ill health condition that has weakened the immune system, it is unlikely to present with recurrent herpes at this age. This makes my suspicion for this being shingles lower unless you provide more information about your general health condition that makes me think your immune system is weakened.
In all, provide an image and more information about your health condition for closer analyses and personalized information.
Ii hope this helps. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
HSV-1 is oral herpes, primarily around the mouth.
HSV-2 is genital herpes, commonly on the genitals.
However, touching the genital or oral herpes lesions with the hand can transport it to other parts of the body. This is why HSV1 and HSV2 are easily transferred by the hands from one part of the body to another.
Shingles develop in persons who have had chicken pox before. When the immune system is weak, especially in the elderly or persons with illnesses that weaken the immune system, this recurs as shingles. Shingles follow a well defined dermatome(nerve area) and never cross the midline of the body.
I will like to have an image of this rash. It would be very helpful to tell whether it is suggestive of herpes or rather suggestive of shingles. Though it would be difficult to talk of recurrent herpes lesions if you never had a well documented primary lesion and the buttocks is not the primary site be it for recurrence or primary herpes.
Also, Unless you have another ill health condition that has weakened the immune system, it is unlikely to present with recurrent herpes at this age. This makes my suspicion for this being shingles lower unless you provide more information about your general health condition that makes me think your immune system is weakened.
In all, provide an image and more information about your health condition for closer analyses and personalized information.
Ii hope this helps. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have submitted a follow up question yesterday. Was it received by the system?
I am just verifying because, I am surprised that almost 24 hours can passed without an answer.
Thank you
I am just verifying because, I am surprised that almost 24 hours can passed without an answer.
Thank you
Brief Answer:
I have not received it!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am so sorry but have not received a follow up question from you. Can you please retype it so that I can address it?
Thanks and hope to hear from you.
I have not received it!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am so sorry but have not received a follow up question from you. Can you please retype it so that I can address it?
Thanks and hope to hear from you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I do not know how this happen. I have open another question and this is what it said:
I sent a follow up question in relation to primary question and for some reason it was not received in the system. Therefore, I am restarting over but answering the question that the physician has asked me at the same time.
Primary Question: I am confused about HSV-1, HSV-2 and Herpes Zoster (Shingle)s.
I am aware that
HSV-1 is oral herpes, primarily around the mouth.
HSV-2 is genital herpes, commonly on the genitals.
Shingles develop in persons who have had chicken pox before and therefore herpes zoster is in their system and can break out later in life or in younger people if immune compromises.
My History:
1) I had chicken pox at 20 y.o
2) I had major car accident at 21 y.o. I had multiple fractures and many organs affected such as spleenectomy (which I believe made me immune compromised), liver laceration, Left lung perforated, diaphragm sectioned. I was in abdominal & thoracic hemorrhage when taken for 7 hour of surgery, which were complicated with sepsis and renal failure. However, I managed to pull out and live normally except for being more fragile.
3) at 28 year old, I had been single for four years and without sexual activities while single, but I developed for the first time a rash on my left buttock along the sciatic nerve. The outbreack has reoccurred at the same exact place yearly for the first four first years and then it slowed down to happen once every few years. Last time there was an outbreak, I had not had an outbreak for six years.
In the beginning while working in hospital as a RN, I showed my second breakout to a nurse and she stated that it was shingles. Then on the third breakout, I went to see the ER MD, while I was working as a nurse, because I was freaking out. He told me it was just a small herpes like the one the boxers get on their back and there was nothing to panic about.
4) I am a 50 y.o and had only four men in my life. The outbreak happened between men #3 and men #4 when I was years without sexual activities. I had only French kiss a men with no hands traveling anywhere.
I am currently in a relationship. We both gave each other oral sex multiple times. However, he has always use condom since it is our main contraceptive method. We both never had any kind of outbreak.
The reason that I am confused about what is exactly the break out on my left butt, is that I just finished a training in HIV & STD and we were told that a women can have vaginal herpes and never have had a vaginal lesion but rather a lesion on the buttock. Even if this was the case, should the rash on my butt had breakout, when I was having sexual activities. None of my partners as well as myself had either herpes on our mouth or on our sexual organ. Can I have obtained herpes from French-kissing a men.
I am providing you with a file name PRinc_photo_of_new_shingles_outbreak.jpg from the internet to show what I believe my rash to look when it breakout on my left buttock.
Please can you tell me what you think and what exactly should I do to find out with certainty. Thank you.
I sent a follow up question in relation to primary question and for some reason it was not received in the system. Therefore, I am restarting over but answering the question that the physician has asked me at the same time.
Primary Question: I am confused about HSV-1, HSV-2 and Herpes Zoster (Shingle)s.
I am aware that
HSV-1 is oral herpes, primarily around the mouth.
HSV-2 is genital herpes, commonly on the genitals.
Shingles develop in persons who have had chicken pox before and therefore herpes zoster is in their system and can break out later in life or in younger people if immune compromises.
My History:
1) I had chicken pox at 20 y.o
2) I had major car accident at 21 y.o. I had multiple fractures and many organs affected such as spleenectomy (which I believe made me immune compromised), liver laceration, Left lung perforated, diaphragm sectioned. I was in abdominal & thoracic hemorrhage when taken for 7 hour of surgery, which were complicated with sepsis and renal failure. However, I managed to pull out and live normally except for being more fragile.
3) at 28 year old, I had been single for four years and without sexual activities while single, but I developed for the first time a rash on my left buttock along the sciatic nerve. The outbreack has reoccurred at the same exact place yearly for the first four first years and then it slowed down to happen once every few years. Last time there was an outbreak, I had not had an outbreak for six years.
In the beginning while working in hospital as a RN, I showed my second breakout to a nurse and she stated that it was shingles. Then on the third breakout, I went to see the ER MD, while I was working as a nurse, because I was freaking out. He told me it was just a small herpes like the one the boxers get on their back and there was nothing to panic about.
4) I am a 50 y.o and had only four men in my life. The outbreak happened between men #3 and men #4 when I was years without sexual activities. I had only French kiss a men with no hands traveling anywhere.
I am currently in a relationship. We both gave each other oral sex multiple times. However, he has always use condom since it is our main contraceptive method. We both never had any kind of outbreak.
The reason that I am confused about what is exactly the break out on my left butt, is that I just finished a training in HIV & STD and we were told that a women can have vaginal herpes and never have had a vaginal lesion but rather a lesion on the buttock. Even if this was the case, should the rash on my butt had breakout, when I was having sexual activities. None of my partners as well as myself had either herpes on our mouth or on our sexual organ. Can I have obtained herpes from French-kissing a men.
I am providing you with a file name PRinc_photo_of_new_shingles_outbreak.jpg from the internet to show what I believe my rash to look when it breakout on my left buttock.
Please can you tell me what you think and what exactly should I do to find out with certainty. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. Please, can you copy the web link of this picture and send to me so that I can access the page. This description cannot lead me to the webpage.
2. To tell whether you have had herpes in the past, we can do laboratory testing to look for antibodies against herpes 1 and 2. This will tell whether these lesions could be potential herpes that past unidentified. This is generally no the case with a majority of my clients. Ask your doctor to order these tests and we would know for sure what your serological status is concerning herpes.
3. French kissing can transmit herpes but am not sure this is the case with you. at least you need active lesions and you didn't find any on this guy then. Also, you would have at least had a noticeable rash before talking of it being transferred to other parts of the body.
I wish you well. Let me hear from you.
See below!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1. Please, can you copy the web link of this picture and send to me so that I can access the page. This description cannot lead me to the webpage.
2. To tell whether you have had herpes in the past, we can do laboratory testing to look for antibodies against herpes 1 and 2. This will tell whether these lesions could be potential herpes that past unidentified. This is generally no the case with a majority of my clients. Ask your doctor to order these tests and we would know for sure what your serological status is concerning herpes.
3. French kissing can transmit herpes but am not sure this is the case with you. at least you need active lesions and you didn't find any on this guy then. Also, you would have at least had a noticeable rash before talking of it being transferred to other parts of the body.
I wish you well. Let me hear from you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am sending you the link: http://totalpict.com/b/can%20aldara%20cause%20outbreak%20of%20shingles/3/62671
This is exactly how it looks and let me describs how it feel:
The warning sign: itching & burning the size of a dime on my left butt.
Rash: then a red rash appears
Blister: then Fluid-filled blisters appears and break open and crust over
No pain
The outbreak first happen when I had been single for four years and before that I was living with a men for 2 years and none of us had any type of break out at all.
The blood test that you are talking about would they determine if I I have the HSV I & II right now or I would need to wait for a break out?
Thank you.
This is exactly how it looks and let me describs how it feel:
The warning sign: itching & burning the size of a dime on my left butt.
Rash: then a red rash appears
Blister: then Fluid-filled blisters appears and break open and crust over
No pain
The outbreak first happen when I had been single for four years and before that I was living with a men for 2 years and none of us had any type of break out at all.
The blood test that you are talking about would they determine if I I have the HSV I & II right now or I would need to wait for a break out?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
This is shingles!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for your patience.
I have gained access to the picture. It is so typical of shingles. There is no need for any laboratory investigation regarding herpes at this point.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Let me know if you have any other concerns that I need to address at this point.
This is shingles!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for your patience.
I have gained access to the picture. It is so typical of shingles. There is no need for any laboratory investigation regarding herpes at this point.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Let me know if you have any other concerns that I need to address at this point.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much. I feel so much more relief and clean!!!!
Should I get a shingle vaccine? and do you believe this due because I have lost my spleen.
Thank you.
Should I get a shingle vaccine? and do you believe this due because I have lost my spleen.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Yes, you can get a shingle vaccin!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You can get a shingle vaccine. This would for sure help prevent future outbreaks and or severity.
Sure, the absence of spleen has impacted on the integrity of your immune system. This may be the reason why you have outbreaks at an earlier age that would have been expected in a majority of the population.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Yes, you can get a shingle vaccin!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You can get a shingle vaccine. This would for sure help prevent future outbreaks and or severity.
Sure, the absence of spleen has impacted on the integrity of your immune system. This may be the reason why you have outbreaks at an earlier age that would have been expected in a majority of the population.
I hope this helps. I wish you well.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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