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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Oral Herpes Spread Through Kissing?

My boyfriend didn t realize that he was getting a cold sore and kissed me. How likely is it that I will get a cold sore as a result of kissing him during the beginning stages of an outbreak? Furthermore, I have never dated someone who was prone to cold sore outbreaks. Is oral sex always off the table, or only when he is symptomatic?
Thu, 19 Jan 2017
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Dentist 's  Response
Hi,

As per your complain oral herpes is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and is a communicable viral infection which is commonly transmitted via direct contact with infected individual. In case if you come in contact with an infected individual who is having an active outbreak then you are at a high risk of developing infection as during an outbreak the viral count is highest.

So you are at a high risk of developing infection and I would suggest you to consult an Infectious Medicine Specialist and get evaluated and a thorough clinical evaluation has to be done along with blood test to check for viral count.

As you are exposed with an individual having an outbreak you can be advised a course of antiviral medications like Acyclovir to prevent outbreak. Also oral sex can be performed with infected individual only when there are no signs of any outbreak as in that condition the chances of communicating infection are less due to a low viral count.

Hope this information helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Honey Arora
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Does Oral Herpes Spread Through Kissing?

Hi, As per your complain oral herpes is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and is a communicable viral infection which is commonly transmitted via direct contact with infected individual. In case if you come in contact with an infected individual who is having an active outbreak then you are at a high risk of developing infection as during an outbreak the viral count is highest. So you are at a high risk of developing infection and I would suggest you to consult an Infectious Medicine Specialist and get evaluated and a thorough clinical evaluation has to be done along with blood test to check for viral count. As you are exposed with an individual having an outbreak you can be advised a course of antiviral medications like Acyclovir to prevent outbreak. Also oral sex can be performed with infected individual only when there are no signs of any outbreak as in that condition the chances of communicating infection are less due to a low viral count. Hope this information helps. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Honey Arora