Herpes?

Hi Doctor,

You may remember me from the HIV forum. Well this is totally unrelated.

I had a few questions about Herpes. I've been getting bumps on my upper lip and then they go away after a day but they scar. Today I didn't get a bump but I did get a reddish look to a section of my lip that was a little raised. It went away after a few hours. My questions are:

1. Can this be herpes of the mouth?
2. Can I contract Herpes on the mouth even when there was no kissing or touching on the mouth at all (and only vaginal sex)?
3. If Q#2 is possible, can this be oral herpes even though I show no signs of herpes in the groin area?
4. Is herpes at all curable?
5. How does the first outbreak of Herpes normally look like? Does it hurt?



Thanks Doctor, you are a champ.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Oral herpes is a off topic for this forum, since it's not an STD, with rare exceptions.  Half the population has it, usually acquired in childhood.  So you could have it.  If you do, it isn't causing the symptoms you report.  Also, you are asking the most basic, simplistic questions about herpes.  You need to read about it.  See the informaton on herpes at www.cdc.gov/STD or www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std.  Until then, some brief replies:

1) Once a herpes lesion starts, it lasts at least a week until healing, usually 10-14 days.  Therefore, the bumps you describe cannot be herpes.

2) Adults who don't already have oral HSV-1 usually get it by kissing an infected person.

3) Regardless of question 2, of course you can get oral herpes if you have no genital herpes.

4) HSV cannot be cured, but medicines help control the symptoms.

5) Read the information at the sites I suggest.

Oral herpes without symptoms rarely is an important health problem.  I suggest you forget about it.

HHH, MD

[scared83]

Thanks Doc, Have a good one.

[THE NME]

I looked up online for various things that could tell me what this could be...

my scrotom is often red, it itches a lot.. the back of my mouth (near the hole to my throat) has red spots.. no i'm also having a kind of clear discharge.. I have tiny spots in the head of my penis.. it looks like fordyce condition.. but with all the symptoms i'm having i think it's herpes