a few days ago i was french kissing some one who had herpies, i did not know it could be contracted by kissing even when they had no outbreak untill i asked them jokingly if i was going to get it. they told me a 10% chance of contracting it. i would like to know if this is true, can any one answer this question? i have known this person for years and i know that she would be honist with me, but i am curious if her facts are streight.

Kevin

Right? I don't think there has been much done in the way of studies to predict transmission rates for oral herpes, at least, not that I'm aware of.

The risk of transmission is obviously a LOT less when no symptoms are present, but, of course not zero. My wife has neither type of herpes as confirmed by reliable blood testing. I have both, although I've not had an oral outbreak in decades. We've been together and smooching for over 8 years and there's been no transmission yet.

You might want to get a type specific herpes blood test yourself as it's entirely possible that you already have HSV1 yourself. Most people who have this very common virus don't know it.

_________________
"Do the Right Thing. It will gratify some people and astound the rest." - Paraphrased from Mark Twain

Kevin, the-rajah is correct.

Unfortunately, it's not possible for anyone to accurately quantify the risk of passing or contracting oral herpes for a given situation. In terms of likelihood, oral herpes is likely not contagious when there are no symptoms. There are several days a year that the virus can be present without symptoms (called asymptomatic shedding or asymptomatic reactivation) and a person is contagious during this time. A person wouldn't know when these days occur, but the days are very infrequent (there are more studies on this with genital herpes as compared to oral herpes). For the vast majority of the time when no symptoms are present, the virus is dormant and not contagious. So, speaking in terms of probabilities, the virus was likely not present when the kissing occurred because there was no symptom at the time. But...

You very well could already have oral herpes and just not realize it. Each time you've kissed anyone - parent, friend, relative, partner, etc. - you've taken a risk for contracting oral herpes. Kissing is so common throughout childhood and adolescence that most people contract the virus then. Anywhere from 50% to 90% of the US population could have oral herpes and the chances of having it only increase with age. While most people have it, it's common for people to have it unknowingly.

So what to do now?? You could get tested (to see if you have either HSV-1 or HSV-2 make sure to request a "type-specific IgG blood test"). In terms of kissing, the best approach to reduce any risk of transmission is not to kiss someone when either of you has a symptom in or around the mouth. If a symptom is there and it's caused by herpes, it should heal on its own soon.

Finally, if you ever happen to notice a symptom of oral herpes now or in the future, please know that it may have nothing to do with this particular kiss. It could have been something you contracted a long time ago.

Thanks,
Mike

_________________
ASHA Message Board Moderator

thankyuu very much for the responce i apreciate the quick responce. i will ask for that when i go and get tested wich will be soon.

thank you very much
kevin