The Things That Herpes Experts Can't Seem To Tell You

by Larry
(Virginia Beach, VA)

After pressing my luck with ASHA blogs, other support sites, and even paying for help from two professionals plus a local doctor, what is not told still keeps our house in turmoil over HSV 1.


"Skin to skin" contact is vaguely defined, so I'm told. Looking at how it is used in various websites and blog entries let me suggest a definition: epidermal contact between a known/or even unknown (asymptomatic never had a cold sore) host of HSV 1 or HSV 2 and a person who does not have the HSV 1 or HSV 2 virus.

Now here comes the extra credit issue: Saliva that hosts the virus and is a potential source of infection. Direct exposure or skin to skin contact is still the means for getting the virus in the "asymptomatically shed virus load" into the saliva. So it can be possibly transmitted to the person without the virus through direct contact via oral epidermal (skin) to epidermis of the person who will now be potentially infected for the first time.

A bit look but I think that is clear. Next is the lack of information about transmission from the host via spittle, droplets of saliva that come out during conversation and jokes, or even whispering next to the ear of someone who doesn't have the virus. Some websites would cause the reader to say, "Sound the siren the virus is AIRBORNE by open mouths and nasal passages.”

Seems like if that were the truth someone would have said to those who have HSV 1 to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT so you won't breathe out the virus. In all my reading of material NO ONE gives such a warning. I guess that means it truly takes SKIN TO SKIN contact to share the HSV 1 or HSV 2 with anyone.

I’m hoping to hear some of your opinions please.

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May 08, 2012
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by: Anonymous

Hey Larry,

Thanks for your input on this situation.

I am inclined to agree with you, that HSV-1 (cold sores) can be passed through saliva. That means it could be possibly passed through sharing a cup, kissing, or licking.

I spoke to a Thai doctor about this recently and she believed that the virus is airborne. How else could you explain why it is so prevalent (56% of the population).

Well, I don't think HSV-2 (Genital Herpes) is airborne or can be passed through saliva since that virus only is released through the genital area.

Best regards,

Gary

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