Tranmission of HSV-1

[ren2244]

Hi,

I have always been told that cold sores are not infectious once they have scabbed over. I now know that this is false and that they are still contagious. However, when I did not know this I had a cold sore that had already broken and was beginning to scab/heal. Unfortunately, I made the irresponsible decision to make out with someone during this time. I am feeling very guilty over this but more worried about whether I could have given him genital herpes.

I did not give him oral sex but did kiss him on the lower abdomen a little lower than about where the boxers hit his hips. I also kissed his erection, but very shorty (around one minute) and there were two layers of clothing between my mouth and his skin (his boxers and cotton pajamas) while I was doing this. Is there a chance I could have given him genital herpes through either of these actions?

I'm sorry for going so far into detail I am just very worried and want to make sure all the information is given.

Lastly, if he touched my cold sore and then went to the restroom and touched his penis, could this give him genital herpes? For example, if he touched the sore and then used the restroom anywhere from 2+ minutes afterward and  urinated, thereby touching his penis, could this give him HSV-1?

Thank you very much in advance for your consideration and answer. I'm feeling very anxious and am glad I was able to find a community to ask questions such as this

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If his finger had touched your cold sore there is a small chance that he would get a herpetic whitlow.  The risk is increased if he had a sore spot or abraison on his hand.  


After 14 exchanges, it is now time to stop the "What if...." and "Could it....." questions.  This will be the last answer.  If there are further questions (there really should not be)  I would urge you (once again) to take a look at the web site I recommended or start a new question.    EWH

[ren2244]

Is there also a risk of him getting herpetic whitlow because his fingers came into contact with my cold sore/saliva?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If his abdomen is infected, future infections would appear on the abdomen at about the same spot, not on his genitals.  EWH

[ren2244]

***Clarification

I meant worse case scenario - he somehow gets lesions on his abdomen. In the future, could that same herpes virus appear as a genital infection or will he only ever have outbreaks on his abdomen?

[ren2244]

(Sorry, I'm just trying to clarify whther he could have a genital outbreak.)

[ren2244]

So the outbreak always occurs where the herpes infection was first acquired?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Herpes infections are herpes infections.  The words genital, oral or even abdominal simply describe the location of infection.  If you gave him HSV by kissing his abdomen, he would have abdominal herpes (very, very unlikely).  EWH

[ren2244]

Actually, one more small question ( I apologize).

I know it is unlikely, but worse case scenario and he does develop lesions -- would this be considered oral herpes or genital herpes? I know that oral herpes stays in an area near the ear and causes outbreaks on the mouth whereas genital herpes is usually stored in an area near the spine and the outbreaks are on the genitals.  

In this case, if there were leasions on the abdomen, which would it be (oral or genital) and where would another outbreak occur?

[ren2244]

Okay, I understand! Thank you so much for taking the time and answering all my questions. Again, it's greatly appreciated!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, if transmission occurred the lesion would appear at the point of contact.  Thus if your kissed your partner's abdomen and transmission occurred (unlikely) he would experience lesion formation on the abdomen, not the genitals.  As for how small, there is not a specific number to put on the risk.  EWH

[ren2244]

Thank you very much for response. It is much appreciated and has helped ease my worries. I would like to ask for one clarification though.  

You said there is some small risk by kissing various parts of his body.  For specifically the lower abdomen region I mentioned, would this manifest itself as genital HSV-1? I'm just confused because it is not actually the genitals?... And how small is the risk?

Thank you again!  

[dvash913]

Relax...when you kissed his genitals with clothing over it there is no way he can get genital herpes. and as for the touching of your mouth sore...if you have one present on your mouth and he is kissing and touching your lips, he prob doesnt care about it? but as for him touching it and then your penis that is very LOW RISK.it has to be direct skin to skin contact. so if i were you i wouldnt worry :)

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the forum.   I can assure you, the chance that your partner got genital herpes from the actions you describe is very low.  You are correct that HSV can be transmitted to others at virtually any time (even when lesions are not present).  The transmission is most likely when a new lesion is present and lower at other times.  The presence of a lesion does not assure that virus was present although it certainly is more likely.  Having said that however, please realize that most exposures to partners with HSV, even if they have lesions present do not lead to transmission of infection .

HSV is not transmitted through clothing or indirectly such as if your partner had a cold sore and then went on to touch his penis.  Those are NO risk.  Your kissing various parts of his body does have some small risk for transmission, IF he doesn't already have HSV-1 but the risk is low.  Also, please realize that over 60% of adults have HSV-1 but that most of those persons do not know that they are infected so the odds are better than 50/50 that he already has HSV.

My advice.  Unless he is blind, he knows you had a cold sore.  Simply acknowledge that you are worried if you have not already said so an see what happens.  There is nothing you can do to "undo" what has happened and the risk is low.  If he has not developed lesions within 10-14 days following expsoure, he will not and you did not give HSV to him.

I hope this helps.  In my judgment you really have little to worry about.  If you wish to seek more information about herpes, it can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA).  EWH