Aa
Is this a late herpes of the throat?
Dear, Dr.Hansfield/Dr.Hook:
This is a question on the possibility of me acquiring herpetic pharyngitis or herpes of the throat.
To summarize my history, I am an Indian male aged 35 years in good health. I had an exposure on Nov 23 2008 and no further exposures till today. You can look at my previous posts for my concerns.
In January 2009 I was diagnosed with inflammation and a sore throat. The ENT specialist diagnosed it as acute stomatitis and put me on Azithromycin. In April of 2009,my VD and skin specialist had me undergo blood work for HIV and tests for STDs, including the IgG ELISA tests for Herpes. Both the IgG tests for HSV1 and HSV2 came back negative. Blood work was normal. HIV tests came back as non reactive for HIV1/2.
Last month, June 2010, I had severe throat infection and inflammation for which I was put on antibiotics (Amoxycilin) for about ten days. This cured the throat ache for a short period of time. However, I am still suffering from throat inflammation yet again. My ENT surgeon performed a Fibreoptic Laryngoscopy on my nasal cavity and throat. He diagnosed it as Grade II LPRD, granular allergic pharyngitis and BITH. I have been put on medication for a month.
1.What is the chance/likelihood that this is a late herpetic pharyngitis attack? I have heard that severe viral pharyngitis is difficult to distinguish if it is herpetic or not - is that true?
2. Does herpetic pharyngitis need a different blood test other than the IgG HSV blood tests I have already taken? Can herpes of the throat show up despite a negative IgG HSV1 and HSV2 result?
3. I believe that as both my IgG tests for HSV1/2 are negative (after 4 months since last exposure), this sore throat is not a herpes of the throat. Are my assumptions correct?
4. Should I be worried that this is a herpetic attack although I have no symptoms typical of HSV1/2 (blisters, vesicles, pain in the genital area and lips/mouth)
Looking forward to your reassurance!
This is a question on the possibility of me acquiring herpetic pharyngitis or herpes of the throat.
To summarize my history, I am an Indian male aged 35 years in good health. I had an exposure on Nov 23 2008 and no further exposures till today. You can look at my previous posts for my concerns.
In January 2009 I was diagnosed with inflammation and a sore throat. The ENT specialist diagnosed it as acute stomatitis and put me on Azithromycin. In April of 2009,my VD and skin specialist had me undergo blood work for HIV and tests for STDs, including the IgG ELISA tests for Herpes. Both the IgG tests for HSV1 and HSV2 came back negative. Blood work was normal. HIV tests came back as non reactive for HIV1/2.
Last month, June 2010, I had severe throat infection and inflammation for which I was put on antibiotics (Amoxycilin) for about ten days. This cured the throat ache for a short period of time. However, I am still suffering from throat inflammation yet again. My ENT surgeon performed a Fibreoptic Laryngoscopy on my nasal cavity and throat. He diagnosed it as Grade II LPRD, granular allergic pharyngitis and BITH. I have been put on medication for a month.
1.What is the chance/likelihood that this is a late herpetic pharyngitis attack? I have heard that severe viral pharyngitis is difficult to distinguish if it is herpetic or not - is that true?
2. Does herpetic pharyngitis need a different blood test other than the IgG HSV blood tests I have already taken? Can herpes of the throat show up despite a negative IgG HSV1 and HSV2 result?
3. I believe that as both my IgG tests for HSV1/2 are negative (after 4 months since last exposure), this sore throat is not a herpes of the throat. Are my assumptions correct?
4. Should I be worried that this is a herpetic attack although I have no symptoms typical of HSV1/2 (blisters, vesicles, pain in the genital area and lips/mouth)
Looking forward to your reassurance!
Thanks for the reply, Doc.
I was much expecting you to communicate that my assumptions are correct. However as much as one can conclude reading from the posts, there is no substitute to hearing this advice straight from the Doc. It makes one feel a whole lot better and though, I was anxiety driven in the past - there were no questions from my side since a year!
This thought popped into my head and I wanted to check if there still was an outside chance!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Herpes causes pharygitis only with the initial oral infection; it is not a cause of recurrent or late pharyngitis.
1,4) There is no realistic chance your sore throat is due to herpes.
2) The blood tests for HSV are equally reliable regardless of the anatomic site of infection.
3) Your assumptions are correct.
You have a long track record of anxiety-driven questions on this and the HIV prevention forum despite no plausible risk. It is time to stop. There will be no follow-up discussion on this thread.
HHH, MD
1,4) There is no realistic chance your sore throat is due to herpes.
2) The blood tests for HSV are equally reliable regardless of the anatomic site of infection.
3) Your assumptions are correct.
You have a long track record of anxiety-driven questions on this and the HIV prevention forum despite no plausible risk. It is time to stop. There will be no follow-up discussion on this thread.
HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
