Can I acquire HSV 2 by kissing someone with cold sores on their lips?

[perryj]

-Recently tested positive for HSV 2 IgG (5.76)
-Been faithfully married 40+ years
-At a Mardi Gras party recently, a casual acquaintance planted a kiss on my lips and finished it off by sticking her tongue in my mouth. Although a little surprised, I didn’t think much of it until I saw her again the next day. What had looked like a mole on her lip one day was clearly a cold sore the next day. Didn’t think too much about it until I developed several sores on my abdomen about two weeks later. A little internet research convinced me to get a blood test.

Presumably this incident caused the HSV. If not, could it have triggered dormant HSV in already in my body for decades?

[Terri Warren]

Oh so you have two posts.
First of all, if she had a cold sore, it would almost certainly be HSV 1. HSV 2 can cause oral infection, but it usually doesn’t recur often. Next, there would be no way from a kiss that the virus would travel from your mouth to your abdomen. Next, even if your cold sore by some very odd chance was HSV 2, aside from it not being able to travel to your abdomen, you would not have mounted a 5.76 index value immune response in two weeks.
Either you had this virus before you marred 40 years ago OR your wife has HSV 2 and infected you somewhere along the way. Have you never had lesions on your penis, thigh buttocks or belly before that might be herpes?

Terri

[perryj]

Hi Terri,
With HSV2 (in genital area only and confirmed by a blood test), is there a transmission risk by just kissing someone either casually or romantically?

[Terri Warren]

No, there is not.

Terri

[perryj]

What’s the risk to a non-infected spouse or other person from bed linens (sleeping in the same bed), dirty laundry, towels, showers, etc. I understand it’s about zero from toilet seats and other inanimate objects. Is that also true for the above?

[perryj]

I don’t have any spots or lesions on my genitals, thighs or buttocks – only on my abdomen where there are two distinctly different spots. The first is what appears to be a traditional lesion from everything I have read. The other is totally different. It was red for one day and then turned sort of brown and has stayed that was for about 4 weeks, although it appears to be getting lighter. Also, for several days in the beginning it had a small lump which went away after 2-3 days. There was never any pain from either of the spots.

My question is this: Is the second spot also HSV2? Or is it some coincidental boil, etc.?

[Terri Warren]

There is no risk from bed linens, shower, laundry etc. We do suggest that people not share towels because they stay moist and warm for a bit and that’s what the virus likes. Most people don’t share towels anyway so this should not be an issue.

I can’t even tell you if the first lesion is herpes not to mention the second one! You need to have swab testing done of a particular lesion to determine it that specific lesion is herpes or not. You could see your own health care provider for that or some place like Planned Parenthood.

This was your final post on this subscription. If you have more question please feel free to renew.

Terri

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