[Question #2374] Hsv1G

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96 months ago
Dear expert,

I have hsv1genital for 2,5 years now. Only had my initial ob. But having some worries "again".

1. I went to the toilet, touched my labia .. in a rush, i forgot to wash my hand after. Because my baby was crying i took him out of his bed and changed his diaper (this was 1 minute after i went to the toilet). By accident i touched (with that same hand) his penis for a couple of seconds! i totally freaked out. Is this a way of transmission?For what i know, i don't have an ob now (and what if there was an ob?) i would never forgive myself if i do infect him!!

2. If i will have an ob and i will sit in a small layer of water with some salt, can i spread it over my body?

3. My pelvic Physio wants to use TENS to relax my pelvic area. Transcutant electric nerve simulator. What do you advise me?  Because it works in the nerves and that is ofcourse where the virus is "hiding"? 

Something at last. I've red a story of a girl who claimed she had cold sores on her mouth and suddenly years later she catched hsv1 genital. But this is rare right??

Thanks for your time in advance!!

Greetings a worried mom!!

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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
96 months ago
1. The situation that you describe presents zero risk for transmission of HSV to your child
2.  You cannot - the virus doesn't just come through cells into your body - it needs thin layers of skin, like the genital, to enter
3.  Interesting question - I honestly don't know the answer to that question - have never been asked before.  You might give it a try and see if you have any difficulty with outbreaks. 

So I have also seen one case of someone who reported a history of cold sores who acquired HSV 1 genitally.  Either that is true OR the person really didn't have cold sores but rather something else OR she acquired both genital and oral infection at the same time.  Hard to know from people who write things on the internet.  If it happens, it is very rare.  Generally speaking, once you have HSV 1 or HSV 2 at one location on your body, you are very unlikely to get it in a new location. 

So Roos, the rules of this particular forum prohibit anxiety driven follow up questions.  This might fall into that category, so let's finish your last two posts and then try to call it good.  Let me know what else I can help you with.

Terri
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96 months ago
Thnx Terri, I understand.

1. Ok great, but even if the situation was like; there was an ob and i probably touched a sore?

2. So if you have an ob, you step into a bath ( small layer) and maybe have cuts/wounds on your legs or eczema or something, what about the risk then?

3. Ok thnx, so i don't need to take medication out of precaution  you think?

Kind regards


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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
96 months ago
Even if you touched a sore, that is correct.  Not enough virus can be transmitted in this way to your child  You are way overestimating what it takes to infect someone else, and I get it that this is your child and you are worried, but you are nonetheless overestimating the risk.
Yes, that is true, even if you have cuts or sores on your body when you get into the bath
I don't know exactly how to advise you on this except to say keep an eye on your body and if you have an outbreak, treat it.  I'm just not clear on how a TENS unit treatment would impact your herpes.

Terri
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96 months ago
Okay! So even with an ob i can take a bath (and it is safe)? 

Thnx for all Terri! Hopefully i finally find some rest in this :)

If i ever have another (non anxiety) question, can i then still ask it here? 

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96 months ago
I forgot to ask one last question in my final post. 

I cut myself in my finger (it was bleeding) with a razor i used to shave my labia. Is this dangerous (for tranmitting to my finger) or no risk? 

Thnx for all the help Terri! 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
96 months ago
1.  Yes, you can take a bath even with an outbreak without worry
2.  no, this is not a risk for transmission to your finger.

You can ask non-anxiety related questions. 

Terri
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