A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I just got my first outbreak of genital herpes.I am devastated. I slept with one partner after my divorce and I got it.He never told me he had it.I have two girls from a previous marriage and I am freaking out.will I pass on the virus to the kids just by touch or by sharing dishes with them.Advice from other parents would be really welcome.I have read all the sites and I am kind of crushed.I haven't touched any of my open sores.I am taking my meds regularly.I haven't hugged my lil one ever since the diagnosis.I have been running away when she tries to.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 November 2015): Most cases of herpes are transmitted when no known symptoms are present. Also, the majority of people who have genital herpes don't know they have it. Most people either don't have symptoms or mistake their symptoms for something else. It's very possible that your partner didn't know they were infected. Also, you can contract genital herpes through oral sex if a partner has a history of cold sores. It's very very common. Approximately 1 in 5 women are infected with type 2 genital herpes and since many have type 1 genital herpes (usually passed through oral sex), the statistics are higher when you combine the number of people with type 1 and the number of people with type 2. It is important to wash your hands if you've touched any sores, which I suspect you would do anyway, but otherwise, herpes is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, so there's not really a risk of transmitting to your children.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 November 2015): This is the OP.Thanks for all the answers.I read the reason they are not able to find a cure is because there is not enough funding for that research.It could very well be true.I would appreciate more answers from parents who are currently dealing with this.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (13 November 2015): I have read that Herpes can sometimes be passed on without open sores these days. The modern strains of the virus are more easily passed than the ones from decades ago. Humans raised the bar when we started checking for visible sores, so Herpes raised the bar and started infecting without signs.
We need a vaccine/cure for HSV. The medical world is being criminally negligent by not taking this problem more seriously.
They still don't even test for HSV on routine STI screenings. The excuse is that too many people would be found positive. Would they operate this way if HSV was fatal? I think not. The medical authorities just don't care enough about HSV to do anything about it.
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A
female
reader, RubyBirtle  +, writes (13 November 2015):
Herpes is really only transmitted when there is direct contact with open sores. You could transmit it to others by having a good scratch of your sores and then touching somebody else immediately afterwards without washing your hands .... but I'm sure you have enough common sense to know that that would be unhygienic at the best of times.
So the chances of your children getting from you through ordinary social contact is virtually nil, especially if you practice good hand hygiene while you have open sores.
Scrupulous hand hygiene is the single-most effective method of preventing the spread of almost any infection. So wash your hands regularly throughout the day - before eating and handling food, after using the lavatory, after scratching or applying your creams, after handling worn underpants or sanitary items, before and after helping your children with toileting. Google "correct hand-washing technique" to learn how to give them a really thorough clean.
Use a liquid soap to prevent cross contamination and dry your hands on paper towels instead of a shared towel. Have a personal towel for showering and wash it after each use. make sure your dirty clothes are stored away from kiddie fingers before you wash them. When using the toilet or applying your creams, use one "dirty" hand to do the business and, when you're hand-washing afterwards, use the other "clean" hand to turn the taps on and dispense the soap before you wash. That way you won't contaminate the bathroom fittings. You can keep antibacterial wipes in the bathroom to wipe the seat down, if you like. And get some of that alcohol hand rub to give you hands an additional quick clean before you touch the kids.
Most of the tips I've just described are probably unnecessary but they'll put your mind at rest a little bit more.
And please continue to kiss and hug your kids - I'm sure that not doing so will be far more detrimental to them.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (13 November 2015): I have general herpes as well. No it can't passed them on like that. You can still hug and give kisses to your love ones. Just don't touch your open sores and treat with meds. There are home remedies online to have sores away. Don't worry. Just take your meds. Herpes are not as bad as other stds. Its still bad but not as bad as aids/Hiv. Just stay clean. :-)
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