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April 18, 2006
Under the covers
with Liz Engle
Dear Under the Covers,
Is it common etiquette to tell someone else they have oral herpes? I am constantly worried that if I’m making out with someone, they won’t tell me they have oral herpes. How easily contractable is it? Can herpes spread orally? How do you know if someone else has it? How common is it?
Paranoid
Dear Paranoid,
You have every right to be paranoid. Oral herpes can be contracted without seeing any visible sores, so people may not even know that they have it and are spreading it. I do not want to scare you away from kissing people, but it’s good to know that the best thing to do is to take care of yourself and stay healthy.
Herpes is becoming as prominent as the common cold and it acts very similarly. Oral herpes does stay in your body, usually around the area the virus came into contact. There is no cure, but outbreaks can be minimized with prescription medication and time. If you have these symptoms and are developing sores, please see a doctor right away. This column is no substitute for medical professional advice.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) forms inside the body in two different types. 80 percent of cases of oral herpes infections are HSV type 1, while HSV type 2 causes the rest of herpes cases. HSV-1 can be contracted through contact with infected saliva or skin. This includes kissing, sharing a cigarette, or having any oral contact with infected genital regions.
The symptoms of HSV-1 include fever, tiredness and muscle aches. The site of the infection can be painful, sometimes exhibiting a burning or itching that can make it difficult to eat or drink. Sores may not appear at the onset of the infection and can take up to 12 days to appear. These sores appear on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, lips, gums and in the inside of your cheeks and throat.
The best thing to do if you have sores in your mouth or throat is to keep yourself hydrated. When it becomes hard to eat and drink, people consume less. If this happens to you, drink plenty of water. If you have a fever, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).
To prevent yourself from catching oral herpes, avoid touching any infected areas. Unfortunately, this means laying off make-out sessions until the sores clear up.
Most people have had some form of oral herpes before they reach adulthood, but the positive thing is that most of the sores clear up in two to three weeks.
Remember to take care of yourself. If the person you want to kiss has a sore on their mouth, wait a few weeks before sharing your chapstick with them.
Disclaimer: Liz Engle has aspirations of being a sexpert but has no professional training. To submit a question e-mail it to oracle@hamline.edu. You can remain anonymous.
Posted by dwright at April 18, 2006 12:50 PM
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