[Question #2171] HSV-1/Cold Sore Exposure

87 months ago

Hi doctors. I lived in a dorm with a bunch of international students from Latin America and they would pour a bunch of alcohol in a big glass and pass it around the room. Everyone would share out of this same glass, and it would be passed around the room clockwise. I partook in the festivities several nights in the row and drank from the cup. The girl to my right most of those times I believe had a cold sore on her lip. I did not kiss her but I drank from the glass just after she drank from it. Also, they were all Latin Americans there, who to my knowledge have an HSV-1 rate that is nearly 100% in some countries. After these episodes I sort of panicked and thought I might have had a cold sore, but it wasn't exactly like a cold sore but it didn't really seem too much like a pimple either since it didn't have pus, and I also freaked out that I felt a little sick and that this was symptomatic of herpes. Again, I'm not sure if the bumps were herpes and go back in forth in my head all the time if they were or not, but then again I have extreme anxiety so I can never be too sure of anything.

My question is what is the likelihood that I could catch oral HSV-1 from said contact and how much should I worry about it? Is there any need for testing or can I just forget the whole thing?

I also worry that since I’ve had several girlfriends from Mexico (their HSV-1 rate is like 95%) that I may have gotten the virus from them, although I'm not sure if I've ever experienced a cold sore. -- Doesn't this mean I almost certainly have it and that I ought to inform future partners?

When should one be tested for oral HSV-1 if ever? I read that if it will change your behavior you should get tested? (including for HSV-2, also).

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

87 months ago

I'm sorry you are feeling so anxious about this.
You certainly have a lot more chance of acquiring HSV 1 from kissing than you would from drinking from a glass after someone who has oral herpes (cold sores). The virus would be unlikely to live long on the glass and would most likely be present in very small quantities, probably not enough to infect someone else, on a glass. I am not aware of any cases of HSV 1 being transmitted via utensils or glasses or cigarettes or joints, though many people ask about this. Kissing someone with an oral HSV 1 infection is a way that this can be transmitted, yes, particularly if a cold sore is present. I don't know your age or the age of the people you are kissing so I don't know the prevalence of HSV 1 in this particular population. About 56% of people in the US between 14-49 have HSV 1 infection so it is very common indeed. I guess anyone who wonders if they have HSV can test - if you have a symptom and wonder if it is related to herpes is a good reason, I included a herpes antibody test is anyone presenting to me for an STD screen, if you've been in a relationship with someone who is infected and wonder if you got infected is another reason. Remember that the test for HSV 1 misses 30% of infections, so it isn't terrific - the test for HSV 2 is much better.

Terri
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87 months ago

To be frank I just want to go on living as everyone else does not worrying about this. Neither most doctors nor most people seem to give more than a minute of thought to the subject, and yet I am holding all the burden of responsibility on myself. Why isnt everyone more worried about this -- and more importantly, should they be?

Consider this: The HSV-1 rate in Mexico is 95%. Having three long term girlfriends while I lived there gives me a near 100% of having the virus, correct? I feel like logic is guiding my reasoning and yet no one is thinking about things in this way.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

87 months ago

A study published in 2013 found the rate of HSV 1 infection in Mexico to be 80%, so slightly higher than in the US - I don't know where you are getting your data. Most people don't worry about HSV 1 because it is a benign skin condition that presents with intermittent cold sores and sometimes infrequently recurring genital symptoms. I don't know what you mean by "holding the burden of responsibility on yourself" exactly - what does that mean?

You can either worry about it or test for it and find out your status.

There is not a 100% chance that you have this common virus but since the majority of adults do have this, both in the US and beyond, yes, you may well have it. I don't know what you mean that no one is thinking about things in this way? I am thinking this way! Perhaps you can clarify?

Terri
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87 months ago

I mean to say that no one us worrying about this, therefore no one is being tested for it. If I test positive for a common virus , say HSV-1 or HSV-2, then I must disclose. But since almost everyone has one or the other and either doesn't know or doesn't care, I'd be left to hold the responsibility of knowing and disclosing the information. I wish that everubody knew about all this so it would be even less of a big deal. That's all.

Thank you so much for your input Terri

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

87 months ago

Thanks for that clarification, Adam.

Terri
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