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STDs (Expert Forum)
Herpes in the throat?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Herpes in the throat?
by calguy, Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 37 year old male and had sex with a new bf consisting of French kissing and mutual oral sex. 5 days later he got a severe sore throat, went to a clinic and the Dr. told him it was likely herpes. He had a culture taken, and is waiting for the results.
I contracted oral herpes on my lip in my early 20s and have had occasional outbreaks, but haven't had an outbreak in a couple years. I have never had any kind of burning, itching or soreness on my genitals.
1. Is it possible that my bf could have contracted herpes in his throat (and not the lips) from French kissing?
2. If yes, even though I had no symptoms?
3. Is it possible to contract herpes orally from the genitals of someone with only oral herpes?
4. If herpes can break out in the throat, does it recur there in subsequent outbreaks?
[By the way, because I saw conflicting comments by others on this forum, a general FYI: I am 100% positive that I contracted the oral herpes by drinking from the bottle of a friend who had a cold sore on her lip. I had my first outbreak on my lower lip within 2 days, then on my upper lip right after, and recurring outbreaks on my upper lip during times of stress and/or exposure to sun and wind, which decreased in frequency over the years.]
I contracted oral herpes on my lip in my early 20s and have had occasional outbreaks, but haven't had an outbreak in a couple years. I have never had any kind of burning, itching or soreness on my genitals.
1. Is it possible that my bf could have contracted herpes in his throat (and not the lips) from French kissing?
2. If yes, even though I had no symptoms?
3. Is it possible to contract herpes orally from the genitals of someone with only oral herpes?
4. If herpes can break out in the throat, does it recur there in subsequent outbreaks?
[By the way, because I saw conflicting comments by others on this forum, a general FYI: I am 100% positive that I contracted the oral herpes by drinking from the bottle of a friend who had a cold sore on her lip. I had my first outbreak on my lower lip within 2 days, then on my upper lip right after, and recurring outbreaks on my upper lip during times of stress and/or exposure to sun and wind, which decreased in frequency over the years.]
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
I could present your case as an absolute classic. Everything you describe is entirely typical for initial oral herpes acquired from someone with recurrent (if asymptomatic) oral herpes.
1) Most oral herpes causes no symptoms. However, among those with symptoms of an initial infection, it is common to have severe sore throat without external sores--even though external lesions (lips, etc) are the primary manifestation of recurrent outbreaks. If the doc is right about the diagnosis, your partner undoubtedly caught it from you.
2) Yes. Asymptomatic recurrences of oral herpes are not as frequent as the same problem in genital HSV-2 infection, bu ti happens.
3) Yes, genital herpes often occurs from oral contact with someone with oral HSV-1 infection. However, nobody gets reinfected with the same virus type. Once your partner is over his current infection, he will be immune to catching it genitally (if that is your concern). The reverse--oral herpes from a partner's genital infection--is much less common, but it can occur.
4) Yes. After the initial episode is over, your partner will be susceptible to recurrent oral herpes (cold sores), just like you used to have.
Oral herpes is often caught by non-sexual, non-intimate contact, just like you experienced all those years ago. Nothing I have said on this forum conflicts with that.
Finally, I hope your BF is on treatment. His infection will resolve much more rapidly with treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. In the meantime, reassure him; in the long run, this isn't a big deal. He just joined the 50% of the population with oral HSV-1 infection and in the long run is unlikely to have any kind of serious problem with it.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) Most oral herpes causes no symptoms. However, among those with symptoms of an initial infection, it is common to have severe sore throat without external sores--even though external lesions (lips, etc) are the primary manifestation of recurrent outbreaks. If the doc is right about the diagnosis, your partner undoubtedly caught it from you.
2) Yes. Asymptomatic recurrences of oral herpes are not as frequent as the same problem in genital HSV-2 infection, bu ti happens.
3) Yes, genital herpes often occurs from oral contact with someone with oral HSV-1 infection. However, nobody gets reinfected with the same virus type. Once your partner is over his current infection, he will be immune to catching it genitally (if that is your concern). The reverse--oral herpes from a partner's genital infection--is much less common, but it can occur.
4) Yes. After the initial episode is over, your partner will be susceptible to recurrent oral herpes (cold sores), just like you used to have.
Oral herpes is often caught by non-sexual, non-intimate contact, just like you experienced all those years ago. Nothing I have said on this forum conflicts with that.
Finally, I hope your BF is on treatment. His infection will resolve much more rapidly with treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. In the meantime, reassure him; in the long run, this isn't a big deal. He just joined the 50% of the population with oral HSV-1 infection and in the long run is unlikely to have any kind of serious problem with it.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
