[Question #441] herpes hsv 1&2

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105 months ago
my first question is: I was talking with someone standing fairly close to me when their saliva landed on my face and mouth. This person was sick with a virus and had a severe herpes outbreak, several months prior. Three days later, I developed a chronic cough and two months after that, I was diagnosed with Labialis Herpes on my lips, inside mouth, chronic burning on tongue and throat. Several months later, my blood test revealed HVS1 and HVS2. Within three months, I had three outbreaks. Also, along the lateral boarders of my tongue and inside jaw have become ulcerated type sores. I have a history of occasional canker sores that occurred every 5-years or so. My previous medical history has been negative for the herpes virus. Can you please give a medical explanation of how hsv1 and hsv2 can be caused by someone's spittle germs.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
105 months ago
Someone's saliva landing on your face during a conversation would not give you herpes.  A cough is not a sign of herpes.  Someone having a severe outbreak of herpes (was it oral or genital - not that it matters) would not make them automatically infectious at any time.  And if you were going to have a new infection of herpes, it would not happen months later.  Was your mouth swab tested to know if the labialis infection was HSV 1 or HSV 2?  I am assuming it was swab tested as part of this diagnosis.  And are you saying that you had an IgG test in the past that was negative for HSV 1 and 2?  Have you had sex with or kissed anyone since that last antibody test?

Terri
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