“Herpes 1 and 2?”
I just found out I tested positive for herpes 1 and 2 they have a high result. I have not been sexually active for 10 years I am scared what does this mean testing positive for both. Is this possible to have both at the same time?
Female | 54 years old
4 Answers
It can happen to have positive 1 and 2 herpes. Herpes infection can long in a favorable environment.
Thanks for the question. You can have both. If your test was an antibody test, which is likely, then it indicates past disease and colonization, not currently active unless you have blisters or symptoms. Stress and immunosuppression can bring the virus out to the skin. Both types are treatable. Without active skin disease, contact is rare, with < 1% risk, which can be reduced further by taking Valacyclovir prior to the contact.
If you are talking about blood tests, it means NOTHING except that at one time in your life you were infected. The blood tests stay positive for life. These tests are not to be done for diagnosis but for research studies. The only tests for the disease are done on specimens by culture or DNA. 80% of people are positive for type 1 and 40% may be positive for type 2 antibodies ( blood test). Your doctor should never have ordered such tests since they only cause needless anxiety and have no real practical meaning. Looking at these tests is similar to reading old newspapers.
Yes, many humans have both Herpes simplex I and 2 and do not have any typical outbreaks of itchy or painful blisters. The major complication of these are the recurrent outbreaks, which you do not have. So will likely live out your life without any consequences. If at some point in your life you should require immunosuppressive medications, then your doctors should be alerted but otherwise I would advise you not to worry about them.
