Sage-Tips

Can you give yourself hsv2 from hsv1?

As mentioned above, you can also get genital herpes if a partner with oral herpes performs oral sex on you. You can give yourself genital herpes too, by touching a cold sore and then touching your genitals or anus.

Can I spread HSV-1 to other parts of my body?

If you touch your sores or the fluids from the sores, you may transfer herpes to another part of your body, such as your eyes. Do not touch the sores or fluids to avoid spreading herpes to another part of your body.

Can you reinfect yourself with HSV-1?

Although it is rare, sometimes you can reinfect yourself in another place on your body. If you scratch or rub active herpesblisters or ulcers and then touch another location on your body, you may spread the virus. Areas that are most often infected are the eyes, mouth, the genital area, and any area of broken skin.

Can you have HSV-2 and not know it?

In fact, according to a study done at the University of Washington, among low-risk patients in the study, 61 percent of those who tested positive for HSV-2 but showed no signs or symptoms of herpes and had an index value of less than 3.0 were not actually infected (according to later results from a more accurate test). So what does this all mean?

What is HSV-1 and how dangerous is it?

HSV-1 is also the usual cause of herpes whitlow, an infection on the finger, and “wrestler’s herpes,” (herpes gladiatorum) a herpes infection on the chest or face. The range and potential severity of HSV-1 infections lead some experts to view the virus as more risky than usually perceived.

Does HSV2 mutate if it stays in the body?

However, if HSV2 enters the body above the waistline and stays there, it is still HSV2. The same holds true for HSV1 that enters the body at the genitals. The virus does not mutate based on where it ends up in the body.

Can HSV-1 spread to the brain?

In very rare cases HSV- 1 can spread spontaneously to the brain, causing herpes encephalitis, a dangerous infection that can lead to death. HSV-1 is also the usual cause of herpes whitlow, an infection on the finger, and “wrestler’s herpes,” (herpes gladiatorum) a herpes infection on the chest or face.