Do you have Herpes?
If so, how did you get it and what do you do to prevent breakouts?
If you don’t have Herpes, are you sure you don’t have Herpes?
Herpes can live inside you in antibody form without ever showing a outbreak.
You might be a carrier and not even know it.
Are you concerned about infecting someone with Herpes?
Are you proactively cautious in avoiding any exposure to Herpes if you are Herpes free?
Would you kiss someone you knew had Herpes if you didn’t have Herpes?
There are two different strains of the Herpes virus:
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is usually associated with infections of the lips, mouth, and face. It is the most common herpes simplex virus and is usually acquired in childhood. HSV-1 often causes lesions inside the mouth such as cold sores (fever blisters) and is transmitted by contact with infected saliva. By adulthood, up to 90% of individuals will have antibodies to HSV-1.
- Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted. Symptoms include genital ulcers or sores. In addition to oral and genital lesions, the virus can also lead to complications such as meningoencephalitis (infection of the lining of the brain and the brain itself) or cause infection of the eye — in particular the conjunctiva, and cornea. However, some people have HSV-2 but do not display symptoms. Up to 30% of U.S. adults have antibodies against HSV-2. Cross-infection of type 1 and 2 viruses may occur from oral-genital contact.
I had a blood test done and my doctor was surprised to learn I was free of any indication of either Herpes strain. He told me I didn’t even have antibodies for HSV-1. My doctor said I was lucky because “Herpes is everywhere and everyone has it.”
Herpes affects more than just your ability to create a warm smile so I guess I am sort of lucky I am not a “90 Percenter” infected with Herpes Simplex 1. Herpes can be passed from Rabbi to infant and end in death:
Two more babies have contracted herpes through an ancient circumcision rite, leading the city’s top health official yesterday to release an open letter to the city’s Orthodox Jewish community urging caution.The practice, known in Hebrew as metzitzah b’peh, involves a practitioner, or mohel, drawing blood from a child’s circumcision wound by mouth. Last year, three baby boys – including one who died – were known to be infected with herpes during circumcisions by the same Rockland County-based rabbi, Yitzchok Fischer, who has since suspended the practice, officials said.
Here’s how metzitzah b’peh spreads Herpes:
In metzitzah b’peh, the mohel places his mouth on the freshly circumcised penis to draw blood away from the cut. If the mohel is infected with oral herpes (as most adults are), metzitzah b’peh can expose the infant to the herpes virus. While severe illness associated with this practice may be rare , there is a definite risk of infection.Oral herpes spreads easily through saliva, especially when saliva touches a cut or break in the skin, such as during metzitzah b’peh.Most people with oral herpes don’t know they are infected and don’t have symptoms. Even without symptoms, however, people can spread the infection. Because the immune system of newborns is not developed enough to fight serious infection, herpes infections pose grave risks to infants.
High School wrestlers are not immune from infecting each other with Herpes:
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota high school wrestling programs were suspended Tuesday because of a widespread herpes outbreak. The Minnesota State High School League banned competitions and direct contact between wrestlers in practice until Feb. 6 after 24 cases of herpes gladiatorum were reported by 10 teams.The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact, and symptoms include lesions on the face, head and neck. The suspension is meant to control the current outbreak, allow time to diagnose new cases and prevent disqualifications at the state tournament, scheduled for Feb. 28-March 3. The Minnesota Department of Health has been tracking the virus, caused by herpes simplex Type 1, the same strain that causes cold sores. Officials first became aware of the outbreak at a tournament in Rochester in late-December.
I saw a television show the other day that claimed 70% of new Herpes infections come from those with Herpes infecting their partners even though no active Herpes sores were visible. Once you have Herpes you always have Herpes.
There is no cure.
There is a forever risk and peril of passing on the virus and the responsibility of the carrier is to be proactive in being honest about their Herpes status.
You can get Herpes from a simple kiss.
If you haven’t had a blood test for Herpes, you should get a test done so you know where you stand in your relationships. Your test results may surprise you and, whatever the result, you will have to be careful not to spread the virus or infect yourself with the virus through unsafe sex or even casual contact.
When I was growing up, Herpes wasn’t really considered a big deal because “everyone gets cold sores.” Be careful with that kind of thinking because any virus that infects the body has the temptation — and even the biological duty — to flare up and cause problems when your immune system can least tolerate an outbreak.