Oral HSV2 transmisson through saliva?

[Abchsv]

Hi there,
I was wondering if it's possible to transmit oral hsv2 through saliva?
I have had a total of 4 lesions that I'm aware of in the last 13 years. The last one was about 5 years ago.
3 on the roof of my mouth and one on the inside of my lower lip.
Nearly 3 weeks ago my bird kissed my mouth and then kissed my 14 year old son's mouth. My saliva must've been on the birds beak because my son said 'That's gross' and wiped it off.
2 weeks later he developed a sore throat when he swallowed. It lasted about 3 days and went away. Now 3 days later he has said he feels like there is a popcorn shell on the roof of his mouth. No burning. Not red when I inspected. He hasn't had a fever in the last 3 weeks.
Could I have transmitted oral HSV2 through contact with my saliva?

[auntiejessi]

So you have confirmed oral hsv2 by culture? I ask because oral hsv2 is rare, and when it occurs, it doesn't typically cause recurrent outbreaks. I just want to make sure you've had the proper diagnosis.

Assuming that you did get diagnosed correctly, I really, really hope it doesn't mean you haven't kissed your son in his entire life. And bird's don't transmit herpes.

What we do know about oral hsv2 is that it doesn't shed a lot - like it rarely sheds.

Shedding rates: (and you can find all this in the herpes handbook - https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/)

HSV 2 genital 15-30% of days evaluated

HSV 1 genital 3-5% of days evaluated
  
HSV 1 oral 25% of days evaluated

HSV 2 oral 1% of days evaluated

So 1% of 365 (days a year) is about 3.65 days you shed per year. If you don't have an outbreak, chances are really good that you weren't infectious.

Also, herpes isn't transmitted by saliva, but by direct contact with skin. For oral herpes, this means direct mouth to mouth contact. If you kiss your son (or anyone) on his cheek, you won't transmit it, because the skin on his cheek is too thick for the virus to transmit it.

Oral herpes also don't typically occur on the roof of your mouth. It usually occurs on the lips, or just inside them, or in or around the nose. I'm wondering, if you do have oral hsv2, if everything you think is herpes actually is.

You can read more about all of this in the Herpes Handbook, written by Terri Warren, one of the world's leading experts on herpes. It's free - https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/

Let us know what other questions you have.