Herpes Transmission

[GiantsFan1179]

Hi Terri!

I am new here to medhelp, thank you for being available. I am a 31-year-old male, in good health, and have been tested annually for STDs (including herpes)...and I am cleared for everything. I have a question that I tried to research but I am a bit confused as to what information is correct. I looked at some posts here on this site, and I also tried looking through your herpes handbook for some help too. Here is my situation: I work with the mentally challenged in a state facility. I sometimes come in contact with their bodily fluids (mostly urine, saliva, and sweat...sometimes fecal matter). Now, many of the patients I take care of get cold sores, and I have never really been concerned about catching them from the patients until now. One patient, in particular, loves to run up and hug/kiss the councilors. I wasn't paying attention yesterday when the patient ran up and kissed the side of my face! Their lips completely covered my ear, and lots of saliva was sitting in some parts of my ear folds near my ear canal. Now, the patient from what I observed, did not have any present sores that I could see externally (but I know that particular patient gets sores), but my concern lies in transmission through the ear? I've looked over some posts and didn't find too much about transmission through the ear? My inner ear skin is sensitive because I am peeling from a sunburn, and I don't know if that's something to be alarmed over because the skin is raw and sensitive. What are your thoughts on the matter, and what are the facts on transmission? I have seen pictures of herpes all over the body, so I know they can pop up most anywhere...but my concern is contracting the virus through my ear, and getting possible ear/oral herpes from it. Thank you for your time.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think it is funded by people who pay to ask questions, but I"m not sure how else it is funded.

terri

[GiantsFan1179]

Interesting, it's good to know that I have concerns that are similar to others. My profession does expose me to a lot of different situations. Thank you for the good information, I wasn't terribly concerned because I'm usually a very cautious person when it comes to dealing with the clients. But, I cannot foresee everything that is going to happen, especially given my daily duties of working so closely besides them. Information is always beneficial when it comes to ones health. It's good to know for the client's sake, as well as my own. Thank you for your help!

By the way, this is a wonderful website. I was reading some of the articles posted by the site about diet and exercises, and I really enjoyed them. Is this a publicly funded website?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

someone with a remarkably similar question posted not long ago, same profession, same question, so you aren't alone in your curiosity.  I would have no concern about catching herpes from an asymptomatic carrier in your ear.  Herpes requires mucous membrane or very thin skin, like the shaft of the penis or an obvious break in the skin, like an open cut, for virus to enter the body.  I don't think a sunburn qualifies.  Mostly, people who get an outbreak near the ear or eye have been infected orally previously and the virus has traveled to the top branch of the trigeminal nerve, and that's where the recurrence is happening.  I think you should put this concern completely out of your mind.

terri