Thank you for this service.

I have gotten cold sores since childhood and received a positive, very high, HSV 1 blood test years ago.  Over the last decade or so the breakouts have gotten more severe and I started using valacyclovir once daily at 500mg for suppression.  That has worked well and I now have few breakouts and they are much less noticeable.

My question has to do with oral HSV 2. I recently kissed someone and, two days later, noticed a new bump on my lower lip which I would associate with cold sores.  I did not notice any visible symptom at the time.  Is it possible that I acquired HSV 2 in addition to the HSV 1 I already have from the kiss?  If it is possible, how likely is it?  In your experience, how often have you seen a person acquire oral HSV 2 when they already have well established oral HSV 1?

 

Terri

Thanks for this reply.  Your experience is reassuring.

Do you have any insight on the work happening to develop an HSV vaccine or treatment? I have read about the work Fred Hutchinson has been doing with gene editing.  Is there a breakthrough on the horizon? What are you looking for as the next milestone in these efforts?  Clinical trials?  What do you consider the best resource for tracking research in this area?

Terri