Sharing food and HSV-1

[mjane2]

Is the HSV-1 virus able to transmit infection through sharing food? For example, If one person who has a cold sore was eating a piece of strawberry pie and moved some of the strawberries with their fork to the side and then another person came and picked up (with their fingers) those same strawberries and ate them-would that person get cold sores too?

I'm reading conflicting information and was hoping to get some clarification.

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Frankly, from what I've read about your writing and your concerns I seriously doubt that that would happen.  But no, that is not really a concern for transmission to your baby either.

Terri

[mjane2]

May I ask 1 last question (promise this is the last one)?

Now I'm concerned about asymptomatic viral shedding. Obviously I get cold sores (hsv-1) from time to time.  But what about when I do NOT have an active cold sore present on my lips and say I wipe my mouth with my hands (without even realizing) and then change a diaper or do this during the middle of a diaper change? Once again is this a risk for transmission?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, the scenario that you describe is not a risk situation for the transmission of herpes.  

Terri

[mjane2]

After much worry and being terrified I guess I have one additional question to the one above.

1. After thinking about this again last night, I realized there was another case where I did touch the scab inside my nose. I then picked her up and I washed my hands and then washed her hands. So worst case scenario-since I picked her up and my hands touched her clothes, if after we both washed our hands and say her hand happened to touch her clothes where I picked her up (before I washed my hands) and then she brought her hand to her mouth? Is this a risk for transmission? Or even worse, her mom came to change her a few minutes later and what if she (the baby) were to touch her shirt (where I picked her up prior to washing my hands) and then touch her genitals during the diaper change? I'm so worried.

So my questions are regarding transmission via the scab falling in the diaper and then also if she were to touch her clothes where I picked her up? Is it transmitted this easily?

[mjane2]

Even if the piece of scab from my nose landed on her skin in the genital area and didn't realize it before I put the diaper on? Don't think it happened but just assuming the worst. :(

Still ridiculous and no need for worry? Just a tad paranoid right now.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

It does sound like a cold sore in your nose, which is less likely to be transmitted to other than a cold sore on your lip.  

Yes, this worry is ridiculous (your word, not mine).

Terri

[mjane2]

Hi Teri,

I have one more question regarding HSV-1 transmission. I recently got a cold sore in my nose (I think) it was a fluid filled blister that hurt and it eventually scabbed over. I've never had a cold sore in my nose which is why this is new to me.
This sounds like complete paranoia and I'm hoping to get over this, but is there any chance of transmission to a baby if for example a piece of the scab or surrounding boogers fell out of my nose while I was changing her diaper. I don't know if it did, but assuming the worst could transmission be a possibility? Also, at this stage when I changed this babies diaper the cold sore in my nose had scabbed over and would have healed prior but I would keep picking and pulling the scab off and making it bleed therefore delaying the healing process. (Obviously I didn't pull at the scab during the diaper change).

Is this ridiculous or a reason for worry?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Totally true.

Terri

[mjane2]

Also, is it true that the longer the virus is outside the body or away from its host cell, the more likely it is to die?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I would say that contracting HSV 1 in the situation that you describe is greater than one in a million.  Maybe even less likely than that!  Herpes is simply not that easy to spread to others.  I personally have never seen herpes transmitted via drinks or eating utensils.  I have also never seen a case of herpes transmitted via lipstick or lip gloss but I do advise people not to share lipstick or lip gloss.  

I hope this is helpful for you to put your mind at ease.

Also, when people ask these kinds of questions, I always wonder if the person asking them has actually been tested to see if they might be positive and not know it.


Terri