Herpes Gladiatorm worried about spreading to girlfriend

[matt86uk]

Hello,

I've had herpes gladiatorum from wrestling diagnosed on my jawline for many years now although i don't break out all too often and seemingly a lot less than when i first got it.

I've recently got a new girlfriend and i'm scared of spreading it to her particularly at times of shedding between outbreaks.

What are the chances she could catch it sharing a bed/cuddling or being intimate?

I keep having guilty feelings she could catch it in her eye or something and not sure if my concern is over exaggerated or not.

I've told her the situation and we agreed to cover it up when there's an outbreak and be cautious but i just wanted an educated opinion

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, the pill form is more effective ( and less messy). The effect of the drug is related to the level of the drug in your blood and the levels are far higher with the pills.

Please let us know what your and tyour GF's tests show. EWH

[matt86uk]

Thank you doctor i'll take your advice and use acyclovir frequently. Is applying acyclovir cream to the affected area as a preventive measure as effective as taking in pill form? (i'd prefer to use cream).

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll try to help however there are no studies which provide us with data to address your specific question.    Disclosure of the situation to your GF and the decision to try to avoid direct contact when recurrences do occur are good first steps.  

What we do know is that herpes viruses tend to have "preferred" sites of infection, thus HSV-1 is more likely than not to occur on the lips and mouth and HSV-2 is more likely to affect the genitals. This is not just because of the mechanisms of transmission but actually reflects the biology of the virus itself.  As a result there is also fewer recurrences, less asymptomatic shedding of the virus and less chance of transmission to others when the viruses do not occur at their "preferred" sites.  That is not to say there would not be a possibility of transmission, just that it would be lower.

In your specific situation, I have several suggestions.  Most herpes gladiatorum is caused by HSV-1.  If you o not know which virus is causing your infection, I would suggest a type-specific IgG HSV blood test such as the HerpeSelect.  My guess is that your infection is caused by HSV-1.  I would also suggest that your GF have a HSV blood test as well.  There is a better than 50/50 chance that even though she does not know it, she has HSV-1 as well.   If you both have the same infection, she is not at risk for acquiring it again.  If she does not have the same sort of HSV infection that you do, then your plan to avoi contact when lesions are present is a good one.  In addition taking antiviral medication such as acyclovir at the time of recurrences will promote healing an reduce the risk of transmission as well.  Finally, in theory., taking dailly antiviral therapy irrespective of the presence of absence of lesion might also reduce the risk for both recurrences and transmission .

Before you go own such a path however, I would first find out which virus has caused your infection an whether or not your GF has the infection as well.  

I hope this comment helps.  I’ll be please to comment further when you have more information.  EWH