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Suggest Treatment For HSV-1 And Cold Sores On Lips

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2015

Question: I have HSV-1 and get cold sores sometimes on my lips, how contagious am i to other parts of my own body when i dont have an actual blister showing on my lip?

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (6 minutes later)

Hi, HSV is commonly limited to upper half of the body, Lips, perioral area, oral mucosa. Chances of this to infect genitalia is less. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (42 minutes later)

What has caused my concern today is i woke up in the middle of the night about 12 hours ago and i had drooled in my sleep alot and it had made my cheek and eye damp from laying in it and while i dont see an active blister currently im in a panic wondering how contagious i am without a blister and what the chances are that it could have spread to my eye from that?

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it can

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

The herpes simplex virus passes through bodily fluids such as saliva, semen or in the fluid from a herpes sore.
Open lesion ( when the blister ruptures usually at day 4 This is the most painful and contagious of the stages This watery discharge is teeming with active viral particles and is highly contagious.

Avoid direct contact with herpes sores.
Hope this will help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (6 hours later)

So do i need to be worried then? Or since i dont have a blister am i ok?

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Less chances

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

As during sleep eye remains close so the chances of saliva touching the eye mucosa is less unless you rub your eye.
You can consult your dermatologist?\/ophthalmologist to start antiviral drug so the lesion if occurs will be less in severity.
Asymptomatic infection and shedding of virus can occur without blister.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (17 minutes later)

To make sure i understand your response, it is possible, however unlikely that i have anything to worry about?

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Don't worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,
Theoretically infection is possible but in practical very less cases are seen that herpes labialis later affected other sites with auto inoculation.
There is nothing to worry about.
Thanks

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar