Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

HSV transmission to young son

After 15 faithful years of marriage, I was diagnosed with genital HSV.   My concern is that I may somehow transfer the virus to my 6 year old son.    He is still at the age where he likes to snuggle in bed as we read a bedtime story, and although we are both fully clothed in pajamas, I worry that the virus will somehow shed onto his bedsheets and he will become infected somehow.  How long does the virus stay alive on inanimate objects and is it in high enough concentrations to be infectious in such a situation?   Can the virus be transmitted through two layers of clothing?  
Also, if I hold his hold while crossing the road after just using the bathroom, what is the possibility that residual virus remains on my hand even after thorough handwashing?   What if my son then shortly goes to the bathroom to urinate and holds his penis down while urinating?   Could the virus be in high enough concentrations to infect him?    I'm extremely worried about these possible scenarios and my hands are becoming raw from overzealous handwashing.   Am I overthinking?  Please help.
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
55646 tn?1263660809
Your worries about passing herpes to you child are common but completely unfounded.  You will not give herpes to your child in any of the ways your are concerned about in your post.  You will not give herpes to your child, period.  Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection, not one transmitted via social contact.  

May I ask how you were diagnosed and do you have HSV 1 or 2?

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
From everything I've been reading on these forums, NOTHING you are worried about is remotely likely to happen. I'm sure one of the more regular forum posters will chime in soon, but you can go to sleep knowing that you won't be able to transfer HSV to your son :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The virus can not be shed through clothes, it does not work that way, your son will be fine..
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum

Popular Resources
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.