[Question #10256] HSV-2 via shared beverage
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24 months ago
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I visited a friend with HSV-2 (she has genital herpes but doesn’t know which type for sure). I don’t know if she’s ever had oral cold sores. We were out drinking and I tasted her beer (one sip, I think from the opposite side of the glass). I started freaking out in my mind because I noticed that She had a small cut on her lip. I chew the inside of my cheeks so I might have a small cut there. Am I at risk of getting HSV-2 orally from sipping her beer?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
24 months ago
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That is absolutely NOT a risk. HSV 2 is almost always genital (more than 95% of the time) so it stays in the group of nerves that supply the area between waist and midthigh. it does not come up and out of the mouth. You can stop freaking out and put your mind at rest!
Terri
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24 months ago
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1. Thank you, Ms. Warren. I read that 15% of people with HSV-2 genitally also have it orally. Is that wrong? Or does that number reflect people who have HSV-1 orally and HSV-2 genitally?
2. Can you give me some more empirical insight into why I shouldn’t worry? Is it viral load? Prevalence of HSV-2? I’d appreciate any studies you can share. I’m a logical thinker and that can usually help me overcome these thoughts.
3. My friend’s primary outbreak was genital and happened soon after being with a new partner (so I don’t believe it was a latent infection that resurfaced). Do people who are infected with HSV-2 genitally and orally and have a primary outbreak tend to have that primary outbreak in the both locations (orally and genitally)?
Thank you
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
24 months ago
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I don't think we actually have that data, but I seriously doubt it is that high. We know that 95% of people with HSV 2 infection have it at least genitally. Some also have it orally. But oral HSV 2 is rarely shed and very rarely transmitted to others through oral sex and I would say virtually never transmitted through something like sharing a drink.
And yes, I have seen perhaps a dozen people in my career who acquire HSV 2 orally and genitally at the same time, but in 40 years seeing herpes patients, that's not very many!
Terri
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24 months ago
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1. She had two horizontal cuts on her lip below her philtrum. Can oral herpes present this way? I know genital herpes lesions can resemble paper cuts.
2. I know you’ve said in the past that lipsticks can be a possible way to transmit the virus because they are moist and retain heat. It was a warm day and the beer was close to room temperature so I’m having a hard time understanding how this scenario is different?
3. Is herpes present in saliva and can it be transmitted that way? I see different sources saying different things on this topic and it is confusing.
4. Should I get tested in 6 weeks?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
24 months ago
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It is less likely that HSV 1 would present as a paper cut. I've actually not seen that orally
Generally, lipsticks are made to stay on lips, beer is not made up that way to stay on lips
Probably there can be some virus present in saliva, as it passes over lesions either inside or outside the mouth, in smaller quantities
I guess you could test if this extremely remote chance continues to bother you but remember that there are lots of false positives on these IgG tests. For the most accurate results on a herpes antibody test, you should do the western blot
Terri
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24 months ago
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1. Sorry if I was misunderstood, but I wanted to clarify that what I was asking was whether HSV-2 sores on the mouth would present as vertical (I typed horizontal by accident) cuts on the lip? It looked like two scabbed vertical lines.
2. Is my exposure less risky or more risky than a kiss from a person with OHSV-2?
3. Should I just live my life normally and try to forget this if no sores show up in 10 days? I’m terrified that I have oral HSV-2 and will transmit it to someone or that I’ll test positive for HSV-2 and will never be able to prove whether it is genital or oral.
Thank you
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24 months ago
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And have you ever seen anyone transmit or contract HSV-2 from kissing or shared cups? I know you’ve said no in the past but not sure if any new research has come out. I did see one study about possible HSv-1 transmission via a shared respirator during a scuba course.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
24 months ago
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I have never seen anyone transmit HSV 1 or HSV 2 via shared cups. I have seen HSV 1 transmitted through kissing, an entirely different and riskier activity than a drinking cup.
I don't think that any HSV sores on the mouth would present as horizontal lines, no.
You risk is way less sharing a beer with someone who has genital HSV 2 than a kiss from someone who has oral HSV 2.
I would suggest that you live your life fully and move on from this concern, yes.
Terri
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