Question 1

how to know if i have hsv or shingles?

Accepted Answer

Herpes and shingles: are clinically completely different diseases and two different viruses, herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster.  HSV causes sores around the mouth and in the genital area, whereas  shingles, which produces pain, itching, and fluid-filled blisters on nerve trajectory.

Question 2

hsv 1 15.50 hsv 2 13.40 3 years ago hsv 1 2.51 and hsv 2 negative also had shingles 1 yr ago i feel cross reactivity here and why would my value go up

Accepted Answer

No cross reactivity: Contrary to some opinions and statements on line and elsewhere, there is no cross reaction between antibody to varicella zoser virus (VZV, the cause of shingles and chickenpox) and HSV of either type. The HSV antibody tests are not perfect and sometimes give mistaken results, but not because of VZV or current or past shingles episodes.

Question 3

can you get hsv 2 on the top of your foot? i got an infection in my eye 6 months ago. not sure whether it was hsv-1 or 2 or shingles. now i have an outbreak on the top of my foot. also will it travel to my genitals? as of now its only on my foot?

Accepted Answer

Basics: An outbreak on your foot could be shingles which is herpes zoster, not HSV 1 or 2. You get HSV 1 or 2 on the genitals or in the orofacial (near the mouth).These germs are locality based and don't enter your blood to go to new sites.The shingles virus travels down a nerve root where it was hibernating after childhood chickenpox.

Question 4

can hsv 1 or 2 travel without contact? or would it be shingles? lower leg has blisters/deep pain/itching.

Accepted Answer

Not hsv: See a dermatologist. Explain that it is urgent when you call. No diagnosis is possible without exam ; further history.

Question 5

i've been hospitalised for viral meningitis, tested positive for hsv antibodies and had shingles. am i more susceptible to viruses than others, or is this pretty normal?

Accepted Answer

Hard to be specific: Studies in the US show 75% of the adult population carry antibodies to HSV indicating a prior infection. Viral meningitis is a sporadic event.Those two factors alone do not make a compelling argument for increase susceptibility to viruses.

Question 6

can a genital herpes outbreak take the form of shingles on the cheek?the first outbreak years ago was bc of hsv 1, no test done this time.

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Shingles is moat often attributed to the chicken pox (hsv family), not genital (hsv2). Dr can test, if indicated for clarification.

Question 7

is it possible to test positive on igg herpes hsv 2 test and not have it?(is it possible chicken pox virus/shingles could also cause positive result?)

Accepted Answer

False positive: IgG tests are possible.  There can be some cross-reactivity with other viral antibodies.  The definitive diagnosis of specific viruses including HSV 1, 2 and HIV is a western blot test. This also tests for antibody protein but to the specific virus. I believe getting an HSV2 western blot should be your next step. Good wishes:)

Question 8

can hsv 1or2 travel without contact or is it shingles?shin has itchy blisters with shinbone/leg/groin pain/fatigue. have had hsv forever.

Accepted Answer

See answer: If you have orofacial or genital herpes (hsv-1/hsv-2), you cannot transmit the infection to another part of your body after initial infection occurs. That said, with genital herpes, one has infection of the l-4, l-5, and s-1 nerve roots which innervate the rectal area, buttocks and lateral aspect of the thigh and so outbreaks can occur in those areas. Shingles can affect any area of the body.

Question 9

i had shingles apparently in my early 20s on my back. it was very itchy and raised. my husband then boyfriend was scratching it never got it. i also have herpes simplex virus. he never got shingles or even cold sore ever. why if highly contagious?

Accepted Answer

: Shingles is a re-activation of the virus that causes chickenpox or rarely the vaccine that prevents it. That virus hibernates in nerve roots when it finishes its first episode but returns as shingles later in some people. It is not the cold sore virus. If he had chickenpox as a kid or was vaccinated, he would be immune. Shingles exposure does not cause shingles, if vulnerable it causes chickenpox

Question 10

a bit mixed info.went to eye dr and he said i could either have hsv1 or shingles on corner lid.didnt test for it. ruled out adenovirus. confused about how i could get hsv1 on the eye, if i never had hsv oral symptoms. i have hsv2 gen.help clarify?

Accepted Answer

: Some afflictions are pattern specific and the similarity of shingles (reactivated varicella virus) to reactivated HSV is close. Almost anyone your age (35 in post) would have had chickenpox(varicella) as a kid or the vaccine. Sorting out the two could be done by specialty labs with a good sample. The doc not feel sorting the two worthy, may treat both the same way. You might ask at your next visit

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Doctor answers about:

What is difference between hsv and shingles

A member asked:

How to know if i have hsv or shingles?

A member asked:

Hsv 1 15.50 hsv 2 13.40 3 years ago hsv 1 2.51 and hsv 2 negative also had shingles 1 yr ago i feel cross reactivity here and why would my value go up

A member asked:

Can you get hsv 2 on the top of your foot? i got an infection in my eye 6 months ago. not sure whether it was hsv-1 or 2 or shingles. now i have an outbreak on the top of my foot. also will it travel to my genitals? as of now its only on my foot?

A member asked:

Can hsv 1 or 2 travel without contact? or would it be shingles? lower leg has blisters/deep pain/itching.

A member asked:

I've been hospitalised for viral meningitis, tested positive for hsv antibodies and had shingles. am i more susceptible to viruses than others, or is this pretty normal?

A member asked:

Can a genital herpes outbreak take the form of shingles on the cheek?the first outbreak years ago was bc of hsv 1, no test done this time.

A member asked:

Is it possible to test positive on igg herpes hsv 2 test and not have it?(is it possible chicken pox virus/shingles could also cause positive result?)

A member asked:

Can hsv 1or2 travel without contact or is it shingles?shin has itchy blisters with shinbone/leg/groin pain/fatigue. have had hsv forever.

A member asked:

I had shingles apparently in my early 20s on my back. it was very itchy and raised. my husband then boyfriend was scratching it never got it. i also have herpes simplex virus. he never got shingles or even cold sore ever. why if highly contagious?

A member asked:

A bit mixed info.went to eye dr and he said i could either have hsv1 or shingles on corner lid.didnt test for it. ruled out adenovirus. confused about how i could get hsv1 on the eye, if i never had hsv oral symptoms. i have hsv2 gen.help clarify?

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