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Question: I discovered a very tiny sore on my mouth a few days ago. Since it was so small I could not tell if it was a cold sore or a skin cut. It healed in a few days.
A day before I discovered this mouth sore, I was dry heaving in my sink, not always washing it out right away. If I had a cold sore, and touched what I threw up in the sink can I get he HSV-1 virus my hand? What if I touched what was in the sink hours later? Or do you have to touch bodily fluids right away to get the virus? Since I was laying on the bathroom floor for awhile I did not wash my hands right away or at all. (Assuming the virus got into what I threw up).
I also threw up my coke on the sink and the bathroom floor. It took awhile to clean it up. Can I get the HSV-1 virus on my hand from cleaning up what I thew up? It was awhile before I washed my hands.
I never noticed a sore on my face until I saw it in the car mirror. It might have just been a blemish or a cut but now that I got bodily fluids on my hands I am worried. I did not wash my hands right away since I was so sick. Well, I hope that this question makes sense.
If I got the virus on my hand, can I shed the virus from it even if there are not symptoms? Can you shred the virus from your hand from a cut even if there are not symptoms? (Can asymptomatic shedding occur from a cut above an infected site even if there are no symptoms?).
A day before I discovered this mouth sore, I was dry heaving in my sink, not always washing it out right away. If I had a cold sore, and touched what I threw up in the sink can I get he HSV-1 virus my hand? What if I touched what was in the sink hours later? Or do you have to touch bodily fluids right away to get the virus? Since I was laying on the bathroom floor for awhile I did not wash my hands right away or at all. (Assuming the virus got into what I threw up).
I also threw up my coke on the sink and the bathroom floor. It took awhile to clean it up. Can I get the HSV-1 virus on my hand from cleaning up what I thew up? It was awhile before I washed my hands.
I never noticed a sore on my face until I saw it in the car mirror. It might have just been a blemish or a cut but now that I got bodily fluids on my hands I am worried. I did not wash my hands right away since I was so sick. Well, I hope that this question makes sense.
If I got the virus on my hand, can I shed the virus from it even if there are not symptoms? Can you shred the virus from your hand from a cut even if there are not symptoms? (Can asymptomatic shedding occur from a cut above an infected site even if there are no symptoms?).
Brief Answer:
Less likely to be an HSV-1 infection !!!
Detailed Answer:
I welcome you here at HCM with a query related to Herpes Simplex infection. Thanks for the consult and your trust in our services. As a dedicated team, we always try to provide the best possible medical help to our patients.
First of all I want to add that this doesn't seem to be a herpes virus infection because the symptoms you showed up doesn't seem to be a case of herpes. (although physical examination and lab testing confirms but symptomatology also is important).
If we assume that you really had herpes (may be contracted from some patient at your home or outside) then little chances are that you may have passed from your mouth secretions to the hands via the splashes of vomitus. I want to add that this is a debatable issue on spread of HSV through restrooms. One thing is clear that you have to take the two mucosal surfaces or skins in contact right away to spread the virus of herpes.
But as far the leftover secretions on the sink are concerned, no it's not possible to contract infection after hours as the virus may have been inactivated until hours later.
During clean up the floor again, it is less likely that the viruses were still there in active form to infect.
Least likely that you can shed the virus from the hands.
No spread of infection from regular cuts or breach on skin of hands. But if it is due to a sore or lesion due to viral infection then it is possible to infect others.
Mostly, oral and ano-genital regions are infected and affected by the HSV and that isn't spread from things of common use. It is spread through intimate relationship with a patient.
Hope it helps. Please feel free to consult me here for more assistance if you need. I will be happy to be with you.
Regards!
Less likely to be an HSV-1 infection !!!
Detailed Answer:
I welcome you here at HCM with a query related to Herpes Simplex infection. Thanks for the consult and your trust in our services. As a dedicated team, we always try to provide the best possible medical help to our patients.
First of all I want to add that this doesn't seem to be a herpes virus infection because the symptoms you showed up doesn't seem to be a case of herpes. (although physical examination and lab testing confirms but symptomatology also is important).
If we assume that you really had herpes (may be contracted from some patient at your home or outside) then little chances are that you may have passed from your mouth secretions to the hands via the splashes of vomitus. I want to add that this is a debatable issue on spread of HSV through restrooms. One thing is clear that you have to take the two mucosal surfaces or skins in contact right away to spread the virus of herpes.
But as far the leftover secretions on the sink are concerned, no it's not possible to contract infection after hours as the virus may have been inactivated until hours later.
During clean up the floor again, it is less likely that the viruses were still there in active form to infect.
Least likely that you can shed the virus from the hands.
No spread of infection from regular cuts or breach on skin of hands. But if it is due to a sore or lesion due to viral infection then it is possible to infect others.
Mostly, oral and ano-genital regions are infected and affected by the HSV and that isn't spread from things of common use. It is spread through intimate relationship with a patient.
Hope it helps. Please feel free to consult me here for more assistance if you need. I will be happy to be with you.
Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dr Hanif,
After hours of asking you about the spread of HSV-2, I cannot believe that this happened!
I don't know what type of sore that it was. Are not cold sores larger and last for about a week to 10 days?? I did not even hardly notice it because it was so small and it healed very fast once I did notice it.
How long are cold sore infectious after they heal?
After hours of asking you about the spread of HSV-2, I cannot believe that this happened!
I don't know what type of sore that it was. Are not cold sores larger and last for about a week to 10 days?? I did not even hardly notice it because it was so small and it healed very fast once I did notice it.
How long are cold sore infectious after they heal?
Brief Answer:
You can get tested for HSV-1 infection; just to be on the safe side!!!
Detailed Answer:
Warm welcomes and thanks for the follow-up query. I appreciate your concerns here regarding HSV-1 infections.
Your Question:- I don't know what type of sore that it was. Are not cold sores larger and last for about a week to 10 days??
ANS:- Yes--Cold sores can be larger. Actually they are grouped in vesicles at a single site on oral mucosa, but inoculation at other sites may form another grouped vesicular lesion. I use some terms to explain because I know you understand them well.
The lesion you are talking about, I doubt it to be a typical HSV-1 induced herpes labialis lesion. It may be a breach in the buccal (oral) mucosa just because of physical injury that was so small to remain unnoticed until late.
Yes, Herpes-Labialis lesions (cold sores) remain there for almost 2 weeks and they may or may not be associated with malaise and fever.
After the primary HSV-1 infection is over and healed lesions with no symptoms leftover; the virus remain dormant in the 'Latent Phase' in the ganglion neurons (we discussed in detail in our other discussion thread). It may reactivate anytime later in life with trigger factors of stress, lowered immunity.
Bottom Line here for you is; Please don't worry about this issue and don't be over-apprehensive. It will damage your immunity and you can be an easy victim of other health related issues too.
But, this seems to be illogical to some patients without getting a lab test confirmation… Yes, this is justified. You should go for a Real Time HSV PCR test from a lab and see the results. You may upload a photo of the result for my review or can consult your Physician locally.
I am always here to help you answer any questions you have. Please feel free to ask if needed.
Regards!
XXXX
You can get tested for HSV-1 infection; just to be on the safe side!!!
Detailed Answer:
Warm welcomes and thanks for the follow-up query. I appreciate your concerns here regarding HSV-1 infections.
Your Question:- I don't know what type of sore that it was. Are not cold sores larger and last for about a week to 10 days??
ANS:- Yes--Cold sores can be larger. Actually they are grouped in vesicles at a single site on oral mucosa, but inoculation at other sites may form another grouped vesicular lesion. I use some terms to explain because I know you understand them well.
The lesion you are talking about, I doubt it to be a typical HSV-1 induced herpes labialis lesion. It may be a breach in the buccal (oral) mucosa just because of physical injury that was so small to remain unnoticed until late.
Yes, Herpes-Labialis lesions (cold sores) remain there for almost 2 weeks and they may or may not be associated with malaise and fever.
After the primary HSV-1 infection is over and healed lesions with no symptoms leftover; the virus remain dormant in the 'Latent Phase' in the ganglion neurons (we discussed in detail in our other discussion thread). It may reactivate anytime later in life with trigger factors of stress, lowered immunity.
Bottom Line here for you is; Please don't worry about this issue and don't be over-apprehensive. It will damage your immunity and you can be an easy victim of other health related issues too.
But, this seems to be illogical to some patients without getting a lab test confirmation… Yes, this is justified. You should go for a Real Time HSV PCR test from a lab and see the results. You may upload a photo of the result for my review or can consult your Physician locally.
I am always here to help you answer any questions you have. Please feel free to ask if needed.
Regards!
XXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I don't really see the sore there anymore. Just some dried up places on my skin.
I did have an HSV-1 test years ago and it came back positive but I have never had cold sores before.
I don't understand how a virus can be under the skin - even with no symptoms - and not be able to come out of a cut. This is with asymptomatic symptoms.
I suppose its because the nerves are too far from the cut for the virus to come out.
I did have an HSV-1 test years ago and it came back positive but I have never had cold sores before.
I don't understand how a virus can be under the skin - even with no symptoms - and not be able to come out of a cut. This is with asymptomatic symptoms.
I suppose its because the nerves are too far from the cut for the virus to come out.
Brief Answer:
The lesions you were previously talking about, doesn't seem caused by HSV-1
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again with a follow up query here at HCM. I appreciate your response and letting me know that there isn't any noticeable lesion out there. It is good not to have sores especially.
Your test being positive for HSV-1 (Years ago) may be due to Primary infection, that means the first time infection with HSV-1. It's good that you never had the cold sores in the past too.
Nerve ganglions are the residences of viruses. That's why they reside there, not on the skin. They may come out of nerves if they reproduce enormously and back up in the nerves. Also the viral particles can be secreted in mouth secretions. There are a lot of other pathogen which reside on the skin of humans.
I am always here to help you answer any questions you have. Please feel free to ask if needed.
Regards!
XXXX
The lesions you were previously talking about, doesn't seem caused by HSV-1
Detailed Answer:
Welcome again with a follow up query here at HCM. I appreciate your response and letting me know that there isn't any noticeable lesion out there. It is good not to have sores especially.
Your test being positive for HSV-1 (Years ago) may be due to Primary infection, that means the first time infection with HSV-1. It's good that you never had the cold sores in the past too.
Nerve ganglions are the residences of viruses. That's why they reside there, not on the skin. They may come out of nerves if they reproduce enormously and back up in the nerves. Also the viral particles can be secreted in mouth secretions. There are a lot of other pathogen which reside on the skin of humans.
I am always here to help you answer any questions you have. Please feel free to ask if needed.
Regards!
XXXX
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
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