Transmission to Small Children and Eyes

[Worried]

I’ve had facial herpes for 27 yrs. OB’s after the 1st couple years infrequent & always on my chin. Had minor OB last month after 3 years OB free. Last week went out of state to visit 2 yr old grandchild. 2nd night there noticed red spot on nose, mistook it for clogged pores, steamed my face over boiling water with a towel (stupid) Next morning realized it might be herpes & started double dose Valtrex. Concerns re transmission to child – it was still flat red spot – a blister never developed. I never kiss her lips, share glass/utensils, always wash hands even w/out an OB but very scared as I play closely with her, prepare food for her, change diapers (I don’t wipe her privates – poops are for parents)there’s a shared hand towel in the bathroom, etc. Also, would the stupid steaming have spread it to my eyes? Saw eye dr today, he saw nothing but he wouldn’t know unless I later had an OB, right?

[Terri Warren]

I am not concerned ,given you description, that you might have infected your grandchild. Not at all.
You cannot physically spread this virus to your eye. The virus already lives in the trigeminal nerve that innervates basically your whole facial area. If the virus chooses to travel on the top branch of the trigeminal nerve, it could show up on your eye. If it hasn’t already in 27 years, I suspect it is very unlikely to travel there now.

In summary, I think all is well. If you have more questions, you have two posts left to do.

Terri

[Worried]

I thought autoinoculation was always a concern? Does the fact that it spread up to my nose mean that it is traveling up the nerve, closer to my eye? I believe the triggering event was a severe sinus infection last month, although I also had a shingles vacc at the end of October that they didn’t think I needed to suppress for. If by some unlikely means I did transmit this to grandchild (in which case I will want to drive off a cliff) would she have an outbreak in the next few weeks or is there no way of knowing if it is latent in her? I got this when I was first dating my husband. He has cold sores since he was a small child, his heavy beard usually had my chin abraded during that very passionate time – hence the chin site for me, but neither of us has ever had a test to determine type – our doctor has said there’s not much point due to site of symptoms and the onset as a child for my husband makes it so likely to be I. Do you think we should do healthcheckusa? I haven’t been this anxious since 1st dx – I think the new location and concern for my grandchild is overwhelming me.

[Terri Warren]

Autoinoculation is only a concern with first infection when an immune response has not yet been established. It is not a concern after that because the virus is already in that nerve group.

You did NOT transmit this to your grandchild. If you did, symptoms would appear within 2-10 days but I really really don’t think you did.
I would agree with your doctor that there is no point in typing this virus – it is definitely behaving like HSV 1.
Are you really certain that the thing on your nose was a herpes outbreak?

Terri

[Worried]

I first saw red spot Wed nite. It did not feel like herpes until during the day Thursday, although I double dosed Valtrex Thursday morning and evening. Then Friday morning it throbbed like herpes. So I’m pretty sure. I just thought of something I will use my last question on. During the day on Wed, as well as Tuesday, before I saw a spot, I was playing a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Game with her where I grabbed and covered up my nose. So I was touching the spot that wasn’t there yet. I wasn’t washing my hands after I sang the song and grabbed my own nose. She didn’t grab my nose and I didn’t grab hers. But could I have touched the “pre-spot” and then touched her and passed it on? Sorry to be so obsessive. She is the light of my life. Thanks so much for hosting this site. I have spoken to my own GP and to my dermatologist. GP tried to be reassuring but seemed a little uncertain, derm was a little better but I imagine you have more specific experience. So thank you very much for taking questions. I understand I will need to pay again if I come up with more obsessive thoughts.

[Terri Warren]

No, the reindeer thing did not infect your grandchild. No worries there. I’m not convinced the nose thing was a herpes outbreak, either. Could be, but maybe not.

Terri

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