Hello I came across this statement Herpes is NEVER transmitted by contact with contaminated objects. Even in the households of infected people, sharing kitchens, bathrooms, drinking glasses, towels etc, nobody else ever gets it except by kissing or sexual exposure. So no worries at all! Is this statement true. I have genital herpes. I’m not on any medicine. For the last 3yrs my son has been getting what we think is boils like in his private area. I’m so scared he contracted this from me somehow. The doc looked at it and stated it did not look like herpes. But he keeps getting them every other month. He has been complaining about headaches almost everyday. I catch him scratching his upper pubic area. this morning he told me he had a rash like there. Could that be herpes? He’s not sexually active no oral no penetration. Could he have contracted this non sexually by using the same bathroom as me? Should I have the Dr swab test him he just turned 18 I don’t want him to have this from me. If I forgot to wash my hands and got it on the doorknob, toilet handle, etc could he have gotten it that way?  Would you recommend I get him swab tested. I feel like that’s the only thing that would put my mind at ease. Also if his hand hygiene wasn’t up to par or mine do you think that’s  a way of possible transmission? Have you ever seen a case of non sexual genital herpes from mother to child through household activities?

I don't even use the word never because negatives are impossible to prove.  but in 40 years of practice, I've personally not seen anyone acquire HSV from an inanimate object, except possible sex toys.  I've also never seen a parent infect a child, though many parents worry deeply about this.  I don't see a way you infected him, no.  But his symptoms are puzzling.  I'm not clear how you know with 100% certainty that an 18 year old male has never had any kind of sexual contact but if you are still worried about HSV, you could have these swab tested, or you could obtain PCR swabs from 24/7labkit.com and have him or you or someone do the swabs at home and return the swabs for analysis.  You didn't give this to him.  ---

Hi Terri thank you so much. My son is what they call a nerd he doesn’t have many friends and he only goes to school and then comes home. My family has a history with hs I get boils under my arms my brother also gets boils under his arms and between his buttocks. I’m hoping this is what he is suffering with. We have a appt to get a cat scan of his brain to see about the headaches. I’ve just been so worried to the point where I’m getting sick and I know that’s not healthy. I’m finding my self getting ocd I’m constantly worried about wiping the bathroom down to the point I hate it when someone has to go behind me. I really worry about bathroom use because that’s when your privates are exposed using the bathroom, taking showers, etc. Thank you I will have them swabbed and I’ll let you know. I appreciate your help this has bought me a little piece of mind. I just want the best for him. 

Of course you want the best for him, and you are certainly not the only mom who worries about transmission of HSV to their child.  And yes, this can develop into OCD that is not only harmful for you, but also for your child.  Remember that when you use the bathroom, your genitals are in the middle of the toilet, where there is no contact at all with other surfaces.  Your buttocks does not shed virus when there are no lesions present - the skin is too thick for virus to get out.  And showers are definitely not a risk as soap destroys the outer layer of the virus and it falls apart.  ---

Thank you Terri. I will give that a try. Hopefully this will calm my anxiety and I can get some type of peace of mind. I’m definitely going to get him swabbed tested so we can get to the root of this isssue other wise I’m afraid I will drive myself crazy. 

Sounds like a plan.---