Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Oral HSV1 Risks
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Oral HSV1 Risks
by Wandapet, May 25, 2005 12:00AM
Dr. Rockoff,
I know this topic has been visited and revisited a million times, but I'm having serious concerns. I just need my fears allayed. I'm a thirt-six-year-old woman who got my first cold sore this past January. I've had a new one every couple weeks since then. I have not kissed my children or my husband in five months. It's really killing me. After reading so much about asymptomatic shedding(I believe the number was 18% of days for oral HSV1), I'm fearful of kissing the ones I love. I know skin-to-skin contact and saliva will spread the virus... but, how big of a risk is it for my children? Should I avoid kissing them upon the lips? I love that there is so much information on the internet,and I hate it at the same time. I'm going crazy. Your knowledge and advice will help me immensley with this issue. Thanks.
(now, onto someone to help me with my neuroses... ;)
I know this topic has been visited and revisited a million times, but I'm having serious concerns. I just need my fears allayed. I'm a thirt-six-year-old woman who got my first cold sore this past January. I've had a new one every couple weeks since then. I have not kissed my children or my husband in five months. It's really killing me. After reading so much about asymptomatic shedding(I believe the number was 18% of days for oral HSV1), I'm fearful of kissing the ones I love. I know skin-to-skin contact and saliva will spread the virus... but, how big of a risk is it for my children? Should I avoid kissing them upon the lips? I love that there is so much information on the internet,and I hate it at the same time. I'm going crazy. Your knowledge and advice will help me immensley with this issue. Thanks.
(now, onto someone to help me with my neuroses... ;)
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 25, 2005 12:00AM
, May 25, 2005 12:00AM
It may be true that in theory you can transmit herpes with no visible lesion. However, this is uncommon because the risk is low. Also, expressing affection toward your husband and children is, well, important. I think it more than reasonable to kiss the relevant parties when there are no clinical symptoms. On a personal note, my wife gets the occasional oral cold sore, as she has done since our marriage. In July that will be 35 years. We have kissed at times.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Related discussions
-
coldsore, when can i kiss again?Hi, I got a coldsore last Sunday (well it was the tingli...[more]
-
Cold Sores and Transmission (2 replies):Hey Doc, First of all thanks for the valuable service...[more]
-
cold sores and kissing (11 replies):It's a new year (Jan 2) and everyone is kissing each oth...[more]
-
Tiny white bumps around/on lips, what are they? (1 replies):Recently after kissing my boyfriend, little white bumps ...[more]
-
Is this a cold sore or a pimple? (1 replies):Hello, I noticed this bump a couple of days ago, I had...[more]
-
cold sores and kissing (3 replies):So I realize that there's always a risk of getting cold ...[more]
-
Chance of Passing on Cold Sores (2 replies):Hi over the weekend i hooked up with a friend of mine wh...[more]
-
I have genital and lip warts.About six months ago I went to the gynecologist for bump...[more]
Dr. Rockoff