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Had Cold Sore On Lip. Hand Not Washed After Rubbing The Cream. Touched The Genitals. Will It Spread?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Jul 2012
Question: Hi. I had a cold saw appear on my lip yesterday. I have had them before but do not occur frequently. Today I have been rubbing in the cream but am worried I may have spread the virus as cannot remembr washing my hands after application each time. Can it be spread by going to the toilet if I touched my genitals? Does it live on my finger long enough to make this possible? Can it passed on this way? I would not have gone to the toilet straight after application.

Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (3 hours later)
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query.
Oral herpes is caused by HSV-I. It is highly contagious and the infection spreads through direct contact. Genital herpes is caused by HSV-II. By touching your genitalia without washing the hands can transmit the infection although the chances of having a symptomatic genital affection are low.
Please be careful in future.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (4 hours later)
Thank you.I didn't go to the toilet directly after.can the virus live on the finger or does it die in air after a certain amount of time? lastly I would only have touched the tissue.can it be spread through a tissue if touched it and then wiped myself?

Thanks again
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (49 minutes later)
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
A direct contact with infected part is necessary for the infection to be transmitted. In your case since there was a time gap in between and you touched only the tissue, transmission is unlikely.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 14039 Questions

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Had Cold Sore On Lip. Hand Not Washed After Rubbing The Cream. Touched The Genitals. Will It Spread?

Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query.
Oral herpes is caused by HSV-I. It is highly contagious and the infection spreads through direct contact. Genital herpes is caused by HSV-II. By touching your genitalia without washing the hands can transmit the infection although the chances of having a symptomatic genital affection are low.
Please be careful in future.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.