spreading of herpes

[pleasehelpme1622]

if someone has oral herpes, do you need to come into contact with the actual herpes sore to get infected? Or can you also get infected if someone doesnt have any active sores present? Like though kissing?

[pleasehelpme1622]

thank you both for your help. i appreciate it very much

[gracefromHHP]

as an adult, social pecks aren't going to transmit the virus - only more prolonged romantic type kisses are a risk.

you can transmit the virus even when an actual cold sore isn't present. Just keep in mind that the virus is not active far more of the time than it is.

[Mistakeguy789]

You are showing a high fear of herpes which really isn't warranted.  It is a mere skin condition and nothing more.  Your questions where answered by me already and I don't feel the need to repeat myself.  

Avoid kissing someone if they have a cold sore present.  Re read my above response for the answers to your questions.

[pleasehelpme1622]

Thank you mistakeguy. You answered all the questions i hoped to be answered. I truly appreciate it.

this will be the final question, i promise. I just want to double check, that a small kiss on someones lips who is infected will not likely pass on the virus, correct? is that only when no sores are present? What is the likelihood if you kiss someone (not intimately, just a small peck) who has a sore and you didn't know?

[Mistakeguy789]

Well you have a lot of questions.  I would say you should read over the free herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com it has a lot of information.  

The virus shedds so many times out of the year on average.  Each person is different some maybe longer or shorter.  We don't know.  

The risk is low when you are shedding.  However it can be transmitted.  

Any skin to skin contact can cause transmission.  In oral it is those romantic type kisses.  But you don't know when a person is shedding.  A small kiss won't do much because you need heat and friction to help the virus be massaged into the skin.  

If they are having a prodome or ready to have an outbreak they are contigious somewhat prior to symptoms showing up.  If there is no outbreak and they aren't shedding there will be no transmission.  

[pleasehelpme1622]

approximately how long before the outbreak does the shedding occur? a week? a month? What is the likelyhood of the virus being passed on during this time? lower than when a sore is present? Is there certain behaviors that pass the virus on during the shedding period? What if you kissed (a small kiss on the lips) someone who was during the shedding period?

So it it true to sat that iif someone doesn't have an outbreak or in the process of having one, you cant pass on the virus?

[Mistakeguy789]

There is a time in which the virus is shedding form the skin with no symptoms or way of knowing.  During this period a person can transmit the virus.

You need to come in contact with someone who is having an outbreak.  The area around the cold sore can be shedding the virus as well.  Thick skin areas do not allow the virus to shed but thin skin areas will.  

[pleasehelpme1622]

"Oral herpes is transmitted through direct contact between the contagious area and broken skin (a cut or break) and mucous membrane tissue (such as the mouth or genitals)."

Does that mean you need to come into direct contact with the cold sore? I didn't get a direct answer from the reading.

I want to know if you can still pass the virus on if no cold sores are present? for instance kissing someones lips who has oral herpes, but doesnt have an outbreak at the time??

[gracefromHHP]

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm  has terrific info on oral herpes and how it's transmitted for more reading.

grace

[pleasehelpme1622]

and when I say kissing, i dont mean deep kissing.