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Passing cold sores to child
I have always been paranoid about passing the cold sore virus to my children. I took lots of precautions and made sure to wash my hands a lot, didn't give my children baths while I had a cold sore, tried not to breathe on them while I was changing diapers, never kissed them on the lips and typically never shared anything with them.
I screwed up one time though and let my one year old take one sip off my water bottle when I didn't have any symptoms, however a little later I did feel a tingle for about a minute or two and then it went away. I never ended up getting an actual cold sore, but was I still contagious? He did end up getting a couple bumps on his face about 5 days later and I was told it was hand foot and mouth and never thought about it again, but just recently (almost 2 years later) he had what looked like a cold sore. I am completely devestated and feel like I failed my child at protecting him.
What is the chance of spreading the virus through that one incident? And when exactly are you contagious?
I screwed up one time though and let my one year old take one sip off my water bottle when I didn't have any symptoms, however a little later I did feel a tingle for about a minute or two and then it went away. I never ended up getting an actual cold sore, but was I still contagious? He did end up getting a couple bumps on his face about 5 days later and I was told it was hand foot and mouth and never thought about it again, but just recently (almost 2 years later) he had what looked like a cold sore. I am completely devestated and feel like I failed my child at protecting him.
What is the chance of spreading the virus through that one incident? And when exactly are you contagious?
Its not in the saliva and as a matter of fact, saliva contains digestive enzimes that kill germs and such as is the bodies first line of defense so saliva is a good thing.
Other than shedding, meaning the virus is on the surface without any visiable sores (this happens about 15% of the time with oral hsv1 its only contagious with an open active lip sore. A scab can block it but waiting until its totally healed is the best stage when kissing.
Other than shedding, meaning the virus is on the surface without any visiable sores (this happens about 15% of the time with oral hsv1 its only contagious with an open active lip sore. A scab can block it but waiting until its totally healed is the best stage when kissing.
Makes no difference. For the child to contact it you really would need a rubbing kiss when you have an actual lip sore so dont let your OCD kick in high gear.
dave
dave
1 Comments
Thank you, one more question is the virus in your saliva too and not only on your lip and when are you actually contagious...are you contagious before the tingle or is that the start of it being contagious. I'm pregnant and due in a couple weeks and now I'm nevous about it spreading.
Hi it was zero risk spreading as you mention
2 Comments
If I would have gotten a cold sore would it have been a risk? Also he was teething at the time would that have made a difference? This is really causing my OCD and depression to go crazy...I never wanted my kids to get this virus.
If I would have gotten a cold sore would it have been a risk? Also he was teething at the time would that have made a difference? This is really causing my OCD and depression to go crazy...I never wanted my kids to get this virus.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
