Can I transmit Herpes to my children through indirect contact?

I have genital herpes and am worried about secondary transference of the virus to my children through, say, a towel... Hypothetically, if I touched an area where viral shedding was occuring and then touched my child or something else that my child touched can my child acquire the virus through indirect contact? Can the virus (during shedding) be tranferred from, say, your genital area to your eyes or mouth or something from your hands? Any additional info would be greatly appreciated.

[missT1985]

My baby has eczema all over his body and so I am worried of him getting herpes from me, if I was shedding the virus, it got on my hands and then I touched my child could he get it?

[PinPinPatrick]

I believe the answer to that is yes.  That is why it is recommended not to share towels with someone who has herpes.

But the risk you talk about is very very low.  If you do get a water blister... be careful before it bursts because it is that water that is loaded with viral particles and that's usually how herpes is most often shed.  If you were to touch that fluid and then that fluid got onto a surface, it is possible to transmit it like that.  However even then the virus would have to be transmitted to the right mucous like surface such as a mouth, genital area, and yes eyes... scary. (the eye transmission is the scariest one, especially if it's the first ever herpes exposure)

I believe it is possible that the herpes can be 're-spread'.  To different ganglia... such as a genital exposure then going up to an oral exposure, then going to an eye exposure.  But the way this works has to be spread outside of the body and not inside the body.
For example... you get oral herpes... then you get an outbreak you take the fluid from the water blister and touch your genitals... then you it goes down there... then you take the fluid and squeeze it in your eyes ( don't do that )... now it's also there.  

I hope that helps... just be careful when you get an outbreak... it's the fluid in the blister that is loaded with viral particles.  And also be aware of 'asymptomatic' shedding that may occur but the risk of transmission during no symptoms is very very small.

[gracefromHHP]

you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about as far as transmitting your genital herpes to your children!  We call it a sexually transmitted infection for good reason!  We don't have that sort of contact with our children.

In a household, everyone should have their own towel, washcloth , toothbrush, razor and body puff - for reasons far beyond herpes transmission. Very common germs can be easily transmitted through sharing those objects so each person having their own is important.  As far as transmission through a towel - conditions have to be almost perfect in order for it to happen. You'd have to be shedding the virus actively, use a part of the towel on an area shedding and pretty much hand the towel to someone else to use and they'd have to manage to get the part of the towel with active virus on  on a thin skinned body part and rub it in vigorously with the towel.  No one has that sort of bad luck!  

The risk of eczema herpeticum is incredibly low in general. Most children who do develop it, give it to themselves from their own oral herpes infection.  Since 1 out of every 2-3 adults your child is around statistically has hsv1 orally ( and 1 out of every 3 of a child's playmate's ), taking precautions to protect your child against oral herpes is far more important than worrying about transmitting your genital herpes to them.  http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm  has terrific info on oral herpes and common sense approaches to protecting your child from it.  We really only see hsv2 as a cause of eczema herpeticum in adults, not kids.

grace

[missT1985]

This freaks me out as my youngest (9 month old) has eczema, and our family sometimes reuses towels, which we will now STOP doing (was just diagnosed with type 2 genital herpes a few days ago). I am afraid I accidentally infect one or both of my kids changing their diapers, or washing them, or taking a bath with them. I will want to die (literally) if my children contracted this virus through me. I am very scared of eczema herpeticum or whatever it's called. Neither child has ever had signs or symptoms on anywhere other than the mouth though I think my 3 year old has had a cold sore in the past (MAYBE) and I thought my 8 month old had a cold sore yesterday but now it seems to be gone and I fear I am being neurotic. Very scared. I love my boys and have taken baths with them and probably reused towels with them in the past. Shared drinking cups, etc... I am afraid if I touched my genital area inadvertently and then was, like, changing the baby's diaper could this happen?

[petal130]

Perhaps read Grace's comment again. Genital herpes is an STD - it requires sexual contact to transmit it. Furthermore, the herpes virus itself requires skin-to-skin contact, along with heat/friction. It literally needs to be "massaged" into the skin to be transmitted. Hence why sexual contact is how it's transmitted.

Towels should not be shared for the reasons Grace stated - and the risk of herpes transmission this way in theory could work, but in reality the risk is infinitely tiny and not worth worrying about.

No offense, but I don't see how you will be touching your genitals and not washing afterward. Not a judgment call, I guess I just ALWAYS wash my hands after using the bathroom. Handwashing in general is more important in regards to reducing the spread of the common cold and other viruses and bacteria. I always would wash my hands before and after diaper changes.  Still, even if you do forget to wash, the herpes virus survives for a very short time. I have genital herpes, and kids, and I never, ever think about it. Only my sexual partner potentially is someone I need to think about when it comes to genital herpes transmission.

As to oral herpes, please read the link Grace noted in her post. It's a fact of life for the majority of folks (and yup, kids get it too), and it's nothing but a pesky skin condition.

[gracefromHHP]

even if you don't wash your hands after using the bathroom it's still not really an issue. we really aren't literally dripping with herpes virus that gets on our hands and can be transmitted to others.

I really recommend you purchase Terri Warren's book "the good news about the bad news". It's under $15 on amazon new. it's terrific and has far more details about herpes than her free herpes handbook has. I think it will bring you a lot of comfort reading it.  she has a whole chapter on transmission of the virus and why we don't have to worry about transmission during day to day activities.

grace

[missT1985]

Thank you all SOOOO MUCH!
=)
I have obsessive tendencies and this has helped ease my mind greatly.

[concernedparent80]

I guess I am bringing it back up, but I cannot help it.  I just found out I have herpes this week.  My oldest is known for using my wash clothes after I get out of the shower.  (I can recall one time she took a shower right after me and I handed her a wash cloth and she said she was using mine!) I am pretty good about putting them in the hamper.  But, I know she has used them in the past.  Should I get her tested?



Furthermore, should I start using my own bathroom for showering?  

[sid_x]

i have just been told 3 days ago i have herpes im now just 19 weeks pregnant and th last 3 days i have been going crazy and feel like my parents are treating me like its compleetly contagous and my fault on top of my partners blame and accusing me of sleeping around (the last thing i want to do right now) its clear i got them off him as this is my 1st out burst it kind of feels like every ones beaing selfish to how im feeling right now and i have no idea how to deal or keep this containd or even what my next steps should be other then the ovious keeping everything clean has any one got any good helpful advice?

[gracefromHHP]

this is an old post. please start a new one for your particular situation so it doesn't get confusing - thanks!

also please include with your post if you have hsv1 or hsv2 genitally too - thanks!

grace

[jrcp_dd]

I just found out I have hsv2 I was devistated and I'm in soo much pain im taking my medicine as prescribed but the discomfort is unbearable :( is there anything i can do to sooth the pain n burning?

[daph17]

Oh my gosh, just read your post.  I hope things have gotten better since.  its horrible that the people you should feel safe talking to about this are being so hard on you.  You are probably pretty hard on yourself to.  I really hope things are better and you have found someone you can trust and can give you all the right info.