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Active Cold Sore / Kiss on Forehead...Transmission??
Hi Doctor, I had a question regarding oral herpes transmission. I work with mentally challenged children and am exposed to many different things. A couple of the children I work with get cold sores from time to time. A child wanted to surprise me yesterday, and they ran up from behind me and gave me a kiss on the side of my head (think of where a man's receding hairline starts). I turned around to smile, and I discovered that the child had active cold sore lesions on their mouth! Now, the child didn't know any better...but I am very concerned about getting herpes either on my face or on my lips. The only area that the lips actually touched was my forehead, but I don't know anything more about oral herpes in that you shouldn't kiss/share food with a person who gets them. Am I at any risk at all? A friend of mine put sanitizing solution in my hair within roughly 20 minutes of the child kissing my forehead. I don't know if that was a smart thing to do, but I just wanted some peace of mind that I tried to "kill" some of the virus if it were on my skin/hair. Your thoughts would be great, thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, I think your exposure does not present a risk. The skin of that area is thick and not very vulnerable to penetration by the virus. The sanitizing solution will probably help as well.
But let's step back a moment, and suggest that since close to 2/3 of the adult population has HSV 1 infection, you may also have it and not know it. Seventy percent of people who are HSV 1 positive report no symptoms, so that could also be you. If you are really worried about this, and you appear to be, you might consider being tested to see if you are already infected and don't know it.
Terri
But let's step back a moment, and suggest that since close to 2/3 of the adult population has HSV 1 infection, you may also have it and not know it. Seventy percent of people who are HSV 1 positive report no symptoms, so that could also be you. If you are really worried about this, and you appear to be, you might consider being tested to see if you are already infected and don't know it.
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are most welcome.
Terri
Terri
Thank you so much for your feedback. Working with children always poses so many random acts throughout the day, and this was definitely one of them. I think more than anything it was just unexpected and, sorry, just gross. It's good to know "when to worry" if future situations pop up...but I definitely don't share chapstick/lipstick with the kids so I think I'll be ok :) Thank you for the peace of mind!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think it is safe to assume you took care of it with sanitizer. It would likely take heavy kissing or receiving oral sex from someone with oral infection. I also don't recommend sharing lipsticks and lip moisturizers.
Terri
Terri
Also, I spent the night in the hospital with a friend, and I didn't have the chance to shower until this morning...would that have any bearing on the virus possibly staying on my person, or is it safe to assume I somewhat took care of it with the sanitizer?
Thank you for your response! I have been tested throughout the years, and have been negative for both types. Since my situation posed no health risk, what is a situation that would? My coworker that suggested the sanitizer in my hair said that all it takes is skin-to-skin contact. Would that be more towards romantic kissing or prolonged touching (like hugging cheek to cheek)? It's would be a good thing to know for the future, especially since I will be around these children and probably run into more cold sore exposures!
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
