Confused, need clarity

[Hsvworried1234]

Hi,

I'm very concerned about potentially havin cold sores. I have seen conflicting information on these forums regarding transmission of oral hsv1, namely from grace, dr handsfield, and Terri warren, and I'm wondering what is correct?

First, grace insists that oral herpes cannot be transmitted indirectly between adults. This is pretty much her universal assertion.

Second, dr handsfield seems to believe that indirect transmission can occur quite frequently: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Likelihood-of-HSV-1-transmission-through-sharing-a-pipe/show/1315010

Third, Terri warren is quoted as saying indirect transmission does not occur but here I see she believes it's possible: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/Is-Herpes-Transmission-Possible/show/1228251. However I have also read posts stating that there are no documented cases of herpes transmission through an inanimate object.

So... Which is true? I shared a joint with a friend who had a fresh cold sore (I couldn't see it but there was a red bump on her lip), and there was a lot of saliva on the joint. About five days later I experienced tingling and took valtrex, and nothing showed up, but now I am experiencing it again. I have tested negative for hsv1 prior to and just after my potential exposure to establish a base line for negative status. Am I at risk for herpes? Is this kind of indirect exposure risky? Why are there so many conflicting statements from so many different experts?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, when we speak of transmission from object, those more at risk are young children sharing dribbling toys as there immune systems are not yet strong. Babies are born with antibodies if the mother has hsv but only lasts a few months in their systems. But for adults it would be answered this way and really depends on the object. Its it possible to contract herpes sharing a drink? Yes it is. Is it probable? Not its not. The virus is very fragil and is in salva only as a transmission path, like kissing, but it is not living in saliva.

The object is important. Sharing a glass of water is more risky than sharing a glass of wiskey as the achol will kill the virus on contact. And the joint may have the same effect with the tar and oils.
Should you get tested for herpes sharing a joint? I think not.

[Hsvworried1234]

Thanks for your comment. So, to clarify - it is in fact possible for adults to get herpes via inanimate objects? Then why is grace so vocal that it isn't possible? Plenty of adults have shared water glasses?

Also, joints do not have tar or oils, so I do believe I have some risk of having gotten infected. This is a very confusing topic, so I definitely appreciate your help, as I have a young daughter, so I want to be certain of what my status is and how I should behave around her - ie never sharing food.

[Life360_Dave]

Just forget about this topic. The risk for contracting herpes oral is from kissing a person with an active coldsore. that it.

[Hsvworried1234]

I'm sorry, but I'm confused as to why your response differs from that of Terri warren?

[Life360_Dave]

She says a joint is a long shot so thats the same as forget about. Its so rare and improbable its not even worth going into detail.