Herpetic whitlow as part of genital virus infection

Abstract

Lesions on fingers or hands caused by Herpesvirus hominis have in the past been attributed to inoculation with virus-containing oropharyngeal secretions. Often these "herpetic whitlows" were caused by H. hominis type 1 and occurred in medical personnel. A recent series of 13 recurrent "herpetic whitlows" yielded 11 isolates of H. hominis type 2 and only two of H. hominis type 1. None of the subjects was engaged in patient care, and none had oral or facial herpetic lesions. Nine of the 11 infections due to H. hominis type 2 were in females, and more than half were associated with genital herpetic lesions. Herpetic finger or hand lesions in adults appear to be a common part of genital virus infections caused by H. hominis type 2 and are not associated with infections acquired in hospitals or during primary gingivostomatitis.