I have infection with pus and redness in the genital area with positive HSV 1. Please help.

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 35-year-old male. There were no episodes of herpes except chickenpox in childhood. There was no infection of HIV, and it was clinically tested every six months for the last seven years. My partner and I, both do not have HIV (clinically tested). I had a bacterial or fungal infection with pus and redness in the genital area. So I have done the blood test. HIV was negative, HSV-1 IgG 4.5 positive, HSV-1 IgM 0.29 negative, HSV-2 IgG 0.45 negative, and HSV-2 IgM 0.69 negative. HSV-1 is mostly a non-genital infection. I did not have any episodes of HSV-1 type herpes in my life. I never had HSV-1 type herpes anywhere in the body. I am straight and have a relationship only with my spouse. How can blood show HSV-1 IgG positive without any symptoms? The dermatologist says it is due to past infection and not about present infection. The doctor told me I should take an antiviral dose Acyclovir for 20 days for HSV-1 IgG past infection. Is it useful to take antiviral doses for the past HSV-1-type infection? Will it reduce IgG levels in the blood? Is HSV-1 IgG is false positive?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi doctor,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

First, understand the situation, IgM indicates recent infection and IgG indicates chronic infection. Since you have both the IgM negative, it means that there is no recent infection. Secondly, about 70 to 80 % of the US population is HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus) positive, which means they are infected once in a lifetime and antibodies will remain throughout life. But, it does not mean that 80 % of the US population should start taking Acyclovir. There are no guidelines for taking Acyclovir until you are symptomatic. So do not think so much about this figure. If you have any other problems, you can revert to me.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You do not necessarily have to get symptoms if you are infected. The most common manifestation of HSV (herpes simplex virus) is fever and blisters around or on the lips, which almost everybody suffers from in their childhood. It does not necessarily depend on the body's immune status and the status of B-cells to synthesize IgM. Yes, it is useless to take Acyclovir, and for your kind information herpes is never curable. The only thing we can do is to decrease the course of the symptomatic period. Recurrence is a rule in herpes.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.