[Question #3939] HSV1 transmission question
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86 months ago
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If you are next to a person in a restaurant and they have a
cold sore, are you at risk if you shared a dessert and shared a couple of sips
of a drink with them. My understanding is that it poses no risk at all and it
seems that “reputable web sites” clearly state that no one has ever transmitted
HSV1 through sharing utensils or sharing drinks/glasses. I’ve hear that really
the only way you would be at risk was it you kissed the person on the lips – is
this accurate?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
86 months ago
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There is no risk of getting herpes in the way that you describe, you are absolutely correct.
Terri
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86 months ago
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Thanks Terri. 1st follow-up - why do so many physicians (and others) give misinformation about how HSV1 is transmitted (like transmission from inanimate objects)?
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86 months ago
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Hey Terri 2nd and final follow-up. You've mentioned HSV1 being somewhat difficult to transmit - this seems to fly in the face of the "grandma gave the child a peck"? Any reason? Also is Sitavig a breakthrough treatment? Thanks
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
86 months ago
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I don't really know why some clinicians give false information about transmission. Perhaps they don't follow the professional literature on herpes
I believe what we've said is that HSV 1 genital infection is difficult to transmit and oral herpes is not transmitted in the ways that you described. It takes a certainlhy volume of virus to infect another person AND that volume needs to come into contact with parts of another person that are vulnerable - i.e. very thin skin - like the lip or the genitals. Virus cannot penetrate intact facial skin, for example - the skin is too thick.
Terri
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