Strange Bumps After Scape on a Wreck Dive

[fisherdvm]

If Peutavir is a topical (applied to the skin) it is likely rediculously expensive and worthless.

If your doctor is uncomfortable doing a viral culture, she can order blood test .... herpes virus igg. But this is not helpful, as many people are carrier of hsv. IgM level will not help here, as you have the infection for over a month.


Unfortunately, by the time you get in to see a dermatologist, the lesions, if they were HSV will be gone... You really need fresh lesions (filled with fluid) to do a viral culture, viral staining, or a Tzanck smear.

Too bad that you saw an incompetent doctor.

 

[fisherdvm]

Oops, doubly clicked.

 

[fisherdvm]

Oh, if your doctor prescribed pentavir, or pentaclovir, it is the same as Famvir. If it is an oral form, it would be fine. They do make a cream version of it, which would be worthless, as the skin on the finger is too thick for cream to penetrate.

Make sure your doctor gave you alot of refills, or that you received a quantity of it. The usual dose for repeated recurrences is about 125 to 250 mg twice a day for 5 to 7 days.

I would start it as soon as you have a tingling sensation in your finger, before the next episode erupts.

 

[enortham]

Sorry to keep pinging you guys on this but I feel more confident in your replies than the doctor's here. if it is herpes, which it sounds like that's the biggest candidate, how contagious can it be and when is it mostly likely to be spread? Should I worry at all about washing my face after shaving with potential cuts, wiping my eyes, or touching my genitals for example.

By the way, I do get cold sores every once in a while so I assume that means the virus would be detected in my blood. Maybe that's how I actually transferred it to my finger.

 

[fisherdvm]

If you have cold sores, and it is herpes, it is usually on the outer edges of your lip (not inside your mouth)

The virus is not found in the blood stream. It is only on the surface of the skin (reactivated from the nerve by a spinal or cranial nerve ganglion).

If you did get it on your finger, it is due to direct contact (to your cold sore, or another individual's herpes lesion).

I am still not 100% if it what you have is herpes, but if it recurs in the same area again, again, and again... It might be. Herpes usually last from 10 to 15 days before it disappear.

 

[DocVikingo]

Sorry to keep pinging you guys on this but I feel more confident in your replies than the doctor's here. if it is herpes, which it sounds like that's the biggest candidate, how contagious can it be and when is it mostly likely to be spread? Should I worry at all about washing my face after shaving with potential cuts, wiping my eyes, or touching my genitals for example.

By the way, I do get cold sores every once in a while so I assume that means the virus would be detected in my blood. Maybe that's how I actually transferred it to my finger.

Yes, it is possible to spread the virus from the location of an outbreak to other places on the body by touching. The fingers, eyes, and other body areas can become infected in this way. Don't touch affected areas during an outbreak; if this does occur, thoroughly wash the hands as soon as possible with soap and warm water.

As fisherdvm has indicated, the virus itself is not found in the blood stream. However, blood testing can identify antibodies to the offending virus.

Also as he has indicated, we are not certain that you are suffering from a herpetic whitlow.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Scott T]

Hey,
I'm not sure what the latest is on this, but in reading the latest DAN issue there is an article about Sea Urchin Punctures.

"And watch those spines: Because of their innate fragility, they frequently break, leaving pieces in the skin or deeper. Your body may resorb residual spines without surgical intervention. On occasion, spines can be spontaneously extruded from the skin. With repeated or numerous punctures, a delayed nodular skin reaction can occur. These nodules, which are firm to the touch, are either flesh-colored or slightly purplish."

"A unique, delayed complication within the skin is the formation of granulomas (nodules)."

It's a possibility.

Scott T

 

[Missdirected]

Wonder what ever happened to that fella? I am curious to know where all of this led.

 

[enortham]

After the last outbreak in February, which was the second, they haven't come back. Maybe it was due to a sea urchin or other sort of foreign body. Thanks for the post.

 

[Missdirected]

After the last outbreak in February, which was the second, they haven't come back. Maybe it was due to a sea urchin or other sort of foreign body. Thanks for the post.

Well thanks for the update