Herpes question. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jim Kata · 11-14-2005, 01:20 PM

I did a search but had no luck for my question.

Ok...here is the deal, my fiance's sister's boyfriend has frequent cold sores. The other day I was told he was touching one and touching other things in the house. I am curious if they can be spread this way. now keep in mind that they were open sores, he was touching them, and then touching something else (i.e. the remote control, a PS2 controller, so forth and so on) immediately after touching the open sores. If someone was to touch the same thing after him can they be spread that way? All of my searches haven't been specific about casual contact infections with OPEN sores.

Thanks in advance.

Also..can you believe how inconsiderate and gross that is of him?!?!?!?

raeanna74 · 11-15-2005, 10:36 AM

That is gross. I wouldn't want him touching my skin anywhere. I went to CDC's website. There were some huge PDF files but best as I can tell you have to have direct skin to skin contact. It seems that the virus cannot live for more than a few minutes at most on a none human surface. It seems it needs a moist environment too so in my mind, in theory, the virus would be useless once the surface was dry. I would be spraying everything down with lysol myself. Seems too iffy to take a chance. I did happen to find information that the virus can even appear on the hands if that is where it gains entry to your system.

Perhaps you can even go around spraying things while he's in the process of touching things.

One more thing - perhaps he should be seeing a Dr for this. If he's having frequent outbreaks he's not likely taking meds to prevent outbreaks. For your future sister-in-law's sake he should be treating it.

Jim Kata · 11-15-2005, 12:24 PM

Well...she already has it. But never shows symptoms because she takes meds. She also considerate enough not to let people drink from her glass and such just in case. He on the other hand...I just don't know what to say except....GROOSSSSS!!!!

Thanks for the help. I really really appreciate it.

VitaminH · 11-15-2005, 05:29 PM

While generally it IS possible to spread it this way, it's a lot less likely than direct contact. Most cases you'll get it from kissing/intimate contact, however there's still a chance and people definetly can get infected, especially if it's an open sore and he's constantly touching it and touching other things. That's pretty gross.

Follow him around with a can of lysol or some alcohol wipes and clean everything he touches right afterwords as raeanna said. Maybe he'll take a hint

c172g · 11-18-2005, 01:39 PM

There is a lot of talk all over about the spread of herpes, and nobody really knows for sure. Doctors have told me (I have the genital variety) you can spread them when there are no sores present, others have told me the opposite. As someone who has it, I don't know how you could spread it without sores being present, and in your case I agree with the above comments, it can't live in a non-skin environment.

Smack that asshole in the head a few times (avoiding the sores). Might be time to take your future brother in law aside & mention your concerns, or do it through your sister if that's the more politically correct way to do it.

11-14-2005, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jim Kata Swollen Member Location: Northern VA	Herpes question. I did a search but had no luck for my question. Ok...here is the deal, my fiance's sister's boyfriend has frequent cold sores. The other day I was told he was touching one and touching other things in the house. I am curious if they can be spread this way. now keep in mind that they were open sores, he was touching them, and then touching something else (i.e. the remote control, a PS2 controller, so forth and so on) immediately after touching the open sores. If someone was to touch the same thing after him can they be spread that way? All of my searches haven't been specific about casual contact infections with OPEN sores. Thanks in advance. Also..can you believe how inconsiderate and gross that is of him?!?!?!?

11-15-2005, 10:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	That is gross. I wouldn't want him touching my skin anywhere. I went to CDC's website. There were some huge PDF files but best as I can tell you have to have direct skin to skin contact. It seems that the virus cannot live for more than a few minutes at most on a none human surface. It seems it needs a moist environment too so in my mind, in theory, the virus would be useless once the surface was dry. I would be spraying everything down with lysol myself. Seems too iffy to take a chance. I did happen to find information that the virus can even appear on the hands if that is where it gains entry to your system. Perhaps you can even go around spraying things while he's in the process of touching things. One more thing - perhaps he should be seeing a Dr for this. If he's having frequent outbreaks he's not likely taking meds to prevent outbreaks. For your future sister-in-law's sake he should be treating it. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

11-15-2005, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	While generally it IS possible to spread it this way, it's a lot less likely than direct contact. Most cases you'll get it from kissing/intimate contact, however there's still a chance and people definetly can get infected, especially if it's an open sore and he's constantly touching it and touching other things. That's pretty gross. Follow him around with a can of lysol or some alcohol wipes and clean everything he touches right afterwords as raeanna said. Maybe he'll take a hint __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

11-15-2005, 12:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jim Kata Swollen Member Location: Northern VA	Well...she already has it. But never shows symptoms because she takes meds. She also considerate enough not to let people drink from her glass and such just in case. He on the other hand...I just don't know what to say except....GROOSSSSS!!!! Thanks for the help. I really really appreciate it.

11-18-2005, 01:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
c172g Crazy Location: Michigan	There is a lot of talk all over about the spread of herpes, and nobody really knows for sure. Doctors have told me (I have the genital variety) you can spread them when there are no sores present, others have told me the opposite. As someone who has it, I don't know how you could spread it without sores being present, and in your case I agree with the above comments, it can't live in a non-skin environment. Smack that asshole in the head a few times (avoiding the sores). Might be time to take your future brother in law aside & mention your concerns, or do it through your sister if that's the more politically correct way to do it.