Transmissiom

[Confused1345]

Hi Terri,

I’m very confused about transmission of oral herpes. A quick google search turns up many results suggesting oral herpes can be easily transmitted by shared objects, but your site and medhelp posters are quite insistent it is impossible.

The reason I’m concerned is that I shared a cigarette with a friend who had the beginnings of a cold sore – red bump but no blister – and I didn’t realize, so I shared two cigarettes with her. Once I realized what it was, I went and got a blood test, which came back as negative for hsv 1 and hsv 2. however, five days after exposure I had a spot on my lip turn red and start burning- which to me says that I got infected. I took valtrex and nothing turned up, and got retested at eight weeks – still negative but I understand that seroconversion can take up to four months. So in the interim, before I test again, can you clarify for me on whether transmission can occur by cigarette? If not, then why is the internet so full of doctors(for instance on health tap) who claim that hsv is enormously contagious and can be transmitted by forks and such?

[Terri Warren]

Is it possible? I don’t know. Does it happen. I’ve never seen it nor have I ever seen it documented anywhere that HSV 1 can be transmitted via a cigarette. In my opinion, this does not happen and I’ve specialized in herpes infections for 33 years, not just doing research but seeing patients every week for 33 years (except vacations of course) who have herpes. I don’t know why people say it can happen – perhaps old wives tales or perhaps the same reason clinicians order IgM tests when everyone should know they are worthless. I don’t really understand.

Terri

[Confused1345]

Hi Terri, just following up because I had a red bump appear under my bottom lip – it didn’t blister, but it seemed to be the beginning stage of a cold sore. I don’t know what to do, because you seem so certain that oral herpes isn’t transmitted indirectly, but I haven’t had any sexual contact in years… And I have always tested negative for herpes. Is there something else that can be causing these symptoms? I’m more confused than ever, because I have a four year old in my household, and I really don’t want to transmit to her, I have avoided kissing her on her face, but should I also not be letting her eat from the same bowl as me?

[Terri Warren]

First of all, you don’t really know if you have HSV 1 or not because the screening test misses 25% of infections of HSV 1. So you could have had it for years and didn’t know it. A bump that doesn’t blister may or may not be herpes, no way to know for sure. In any case, I would not be concerned about her eating out of your bowl. If you are truly wondering if this bump is a cold sore, you could have it swab tested.

Terri

[Confused1345]

Why does it miss such a high amount of patients with hsv1? Can you provide some more information about this? I have only had one sexual partner who also tested negative for herpes. I tested before having sex ever, and had no herpes. I have never had any symptoms until sharing that cigarette… I really don’t know what to think. The bump went away after two days, so I didn’t get a chance to test it. No one in my family has ever had cold sores, so transmission to me by my parents is unlikely. And yet I have herpes symptoms. Is it really that indirect transmission is unlikely or is it just that the path to transmission is not well understood? I am very concerned, because I don’t want to transmit to my four year old if indirect transmission is in fact possible.

[Terri Warren]

Why? I don’t really know why, it just does. I don’t know enough about the basic science behind the test development to know that.
Nothing you have told me makes me think you have herpes. Herpes bumps with new infection wouldn’t go away in two days. I think you are worrying needlessly. If you want to know for certain if you have HSV 2 then you could obtain the herpes western blot which is far more sensitive for HSV 1. Our clinic can arrange that for you if you decide to do it.

Terri

[Author]

Posts