Herpetic Whitlow

[chicago bears 2009 (3-2)]

A Florida MT friend of mine has contracted herpes on her distal second phalange. It is referred to as Whitlow.
She is beside herself. She's having a hard time right now.
She, nor her family has herpes, either type. No one has cold sores for her to self innoculate. She is sure she got it from a client.
I had no idea herpes could manifest on other body parts besides genitals, lip/nose and a tract during shingles.
Her doctor prescribed meds and a cream/ointment(?).
Anyone else know anything about this?

I do know that herpes can be spread even though there is NO OUTBREAK but since we don't "go there" I thought the risk would be small.

I have foregone the face massage when I see the client has a cold sore.

Robyn

 

[Meganne M]

How distressing!! I truly feel for your friend!!

For those who want more info, follow this link: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/byname/herpetic-whitlow.htm

 

[athomasmueller]

Dude!

I am v. prone to hangnails and thumbtip cracks myself, so this worries me a little bit. My husband just suggested using liquid skin over exposed hangnails as a preventive measure -- I did have a classmate years ago who kept all her fingertips covered in the stuff all the time, and I don't ever remember feeling it.

 

[AnaBabyBunny]

herpes can be cause by the chickenpox virus living in your nerves. It doesn't have to be passed on by a client.

 

[Liam]

herpes can be cause by the chickenpox virus living in your nerves. It doesn't have to be passed on by a client.

That is not accurate.
It's Herpes Zoster aka Shingles which can occur long after a bout of chickenpox.
This misconception is believed by many many people.
"They say" although I was told differently when my daughter got shingles(and that was rare too, she was a pre-teen) that shingles is not coneforum.xxxious...but you can develop chickenpox if you have never had them if you come into contact with someone with shingles.
In reading up on Whitlow it is apparently common among healthcare workers.
Just another reason to use Universal Precautions. Makes me worry though that herpes does not have to be in the midst of a breakout to be spread.

Robyn

 

[EL BLOBBO X]

Robyn - do you think this means that your friend cannot continue to practice at all? I mean if technically the virus can shed at any time . . . aaagh! Poor thing!

I don't know, I'm just a little paranoid because I do get the occasional cold sore and get stress-induced shingles outbreaks too, and I'm so ridiculously cautious about hygiene, but I'm sure your friend was too . . .

 

[phillyfan11]

Robyn - do you think this means that your friend cannot continue to practice at all? I mean if technically the virus can shed at any time . . . aaagh! Poor thing!
I don't know, I'm just a little paranoid because I do get the occasional cold sore and get stress-induced shingles outbreaks too, and I'm so ridiculously cautious about hygiene, but I'm sure your friend was too . . .

God, I don't know. Like I said, she's freaking a bit over this.
She works in a Chiro office and has some clients on the side. She isn't massaging anyone at the moment.
I'm thinking about all the times we work right up on the pubic bone, along the sides of the nose etc.
When my daughter had shingles the pharmacist had me cookoo with what he was telling me. He told me to wear gloves when washing her and putting the cream on. The Doc said gloves is giong too far, just be careful and wash my hands afte treating her. I remember her being in such pain. I feel for you.
I remember thinking how in Gods name did she get this? Dr said probably stress related...what stress??..she wasn't overextended with activities..we lived a normal middle class life in a great place....oh well.

My friend is coming to visit me in MB in a few weeks. I'll know much more then.

Robyn

 

[lvgeno]

Robyn - do you think this means that your friend cannot continue to practice at all? .

What if she wore a finger cot or even an entire glove?? That should protect her clients from the virus being spread right?

Just a thought.
Angie