My girlfriend had a blistery sore on  side (narrowest part of her waist, on a tattoo) about a year and a half ago. We didn't think much of it, the doctor prescribed something for a staph infection. She had no other symptoms, it went away and we forgot about it. 

The rash came back, same exact spot. Doctor took a culture and results were HSV2 positive.

In the time between her outbreaks she was pregnant and had a baby. We are not sure if they tested for HSV2, but were not informed, nor was anything special done that we know of.

She has never had a genital outbreak/sore, and has only had those 2 occasions of blisters on her side. 

I've never had blisters or any kind of outbreak, last time I was tested was about 3 years ago, blood test negative.

Questions:

Why is it on her side? Is that where she got it initially? Or is the probability of that extremely low, and more than likely she got it vaginally, and it just expresses on her side? Is she shedding through her side and genital region? Does she shed only during outbreaks or at any time? Is there a scenario where the HSV2 virus is isolated to her side?

Concerns about baby.

Since it expresses itself on her side what are the precautions she should take to not transmitted to him? Can she have already given it to him, either through birth (vaginal) or afterwards? Any resource you can point to to parenting with HSV2?

Thank you,

Eddie

She likely acquired this infection genitally but her recurrences are at the very top of the nerve group that supplies the genital area - as we say "the boxer shorts area".  She is not shedding through intact skin on her side, no.  She is likely shedding periodically from the genital area, however, yes.  I don't believe the HSV 2 is confined to her side, no.

If she had given the baby herpes at birth, he would have been a sick child within weeks after his birth.  Since she had the virus when she was pregnant with him, antibody was passed to him during the later part of the pregnancy, and would be helpful in protecting him.  She is not a risk to him at this point.  If she has an outbreak on her side, she should just cover it.  She should not be obsessive about this and live as normally as she can.

Terri

She is paranoid about kissing the baby, or the baby touching her saliva accidently. 

Can you point to any guidelines for managing herpes in a family environment?

Sharing glasses, towels, clothing? Sitting on the couch with a thong?

Any resource you can point us to would be great.

Already ordered the ASHA book Managing Herpes, if you think that book is helpful. 

I think you should not share towels but other than that, saliva is certainly not a risk from genital herpes and sitting on the couch with a thong on is not a risk. 

Parents do not transmit genital herpes to their children except through sexual abuse, though many worry about that, I know. 

That ASHA book I'm sure is good. The Herpes Handbook at westoverheights.com is free and also useful.

Terri