The common cold, manifested in the form of sores on the lips, is a fairly common disease. This is due to the fact that the herpetic virus lives in the body of most of the inhabitants of the planet. Colds and the off-season period cause exacerbations of herpes due to a sharp decrease in immunity. Therefore, those who have already encountered this trouble more than once try to strengthen the body with vitamins and protect themselves from contacts with people already infected with herpes. In this case, the question of whether herpes is transmitted through a kiss becomes especially relevant.
What is herpes?
Herpes is a whole group of infections that is caused by this virus. The common cold that appears on the lips is the most common type 1. Next comes genital herpes of the 2nd type, which also often appears in those who do not have antibodies to it. Herpes virus is found in 95% of people. This number of carriers is explained by the weak immune system in the majority, as well as the high probability of transmission of the virus.
Once in the body, the herpes virus immediately penetrates the human cell and begins to replicate. Then the virus actively interacts with the immune system and remains in the body for life. A strong immune system can suppress it, but getting rid of infiltrated viral cells will not work.
Causes of Herpes Infection
Colds on the lips can form due to close contact with a sick person. This fact answers the question of whether herpes is transmitted through a kiss. The following situations are also provoking factors:
- Decreased immunity.
- The lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.
- Chronic stress and depression.
- Severe hypothermia.
- Long-term exposure to the sun without a protective cream.
- Damage to the mucous membrane or skin.
- Chronic diseases
- Influenza, SARS.
- Menstruation.
In order not to get herpes, it is necessary to constantly strengthen the immune system. You can not supercool, and also forget about preventive measures for this disease.
Kisses and cold sores on the lips
Passing herpes through a kiss is the most common way to get infected. A person who has visible signs of herpes infection is the source of this virus. Therefore, with a kiss, the risk of contracting herpes increases to 99%. Infected cells will instantly enter the body of a healthy person and attack their immune system. Kissing with an infected partner or not is everyone's personal choice. Moreover, there is a likelihood that the immunity of a healthy person will be stronger and herpes will defeat. But still, when it comes to health, it’s not worth the risk. In order not to get sick, you must be careful when dealing with sick people.
Contacts with infected
Everyone who has encountered this disease should know about whether it is possible to get herpes through a kiss. Indeed, it is in this way that it is easiest to get infected. The patient needs to be given a personal set of dishes, towels, as well as bed linen. It is very important to exclude bodily touch, kisses and other manifestations of tenderness. The infected person should use only his personal items and not touch those that belong to other family members. He needs to wash his hands often and begin treatment for herpes as soon as possible.
Doctors do not recommend pregnant women to be in the same room as those who have severe symptoms of cold sores on their lips. This virus has the ability to penetrate the placenta and infect the embryo. Therefore, women in position should try to exclude contact with the patient as much as possible.
Disease spread
When thinking about whether herpes is transmitted through a kiss, it is important to remember that its transmission is mostly airborne. Also, the disease is successfully transmitted by domestic means and through touch. Therefore, kisses and all kinds of contacts with the patient are prohibited. It doesn’t matter if a person had herpes before or not. The disease will spread anyway if you do the following:
- Kissing with infected herpes.
- Have an intimate relationship with the patient.
- Use personal hygiene items for the patient.
- Touch the same things with him.
Whether the herpes virus is transmitted through a kiss should be known to everyone who cares about their own health. The danger lies not only in the person with herpes on his lips, but also in the objects that surround him. If, after treating the affected area with the medicine, he does not wash his hands, the microbes will remain on them and will quickly fall onto the objects surrounding him. It can be door handles, taps, dishes, and other most used things.
Herpes Treatment
The initial stage of herpes, which lasts the first few hours after the appearance of vesicles on the lips, is treated with antiherpetic ointments. If you use this tool in the first day after infection, the sores will go much faster. Treatment in two or three days after the appearance of the vesicles will be delayed for a long time. The thing is that antiherpetic ointments do not have the ability to kill herpes. They can only block its development and stop growth.
Therefore, it is possible to quickly recover from herpes on the lips only in the first day of its appearance. This applies not only to sores on the lips, but also to genital herpes.
Whether genital herpes is transmitted through a kiss is a rather sensitive issue. The disease can be transmitted by contact with the patient’s mucous membranes. Therefore, it is better not to risk it and abstain for the period of the illness from proximity to the infected.
Having missed the first day of the disease, in which you can cure antiherpetic ointment, you should immediately contact an immunologist or virologist. The specialist will prescribe a course of treatment consisting of antiviral, painkillers. Such drugs normalize the body's immunity and its microflora. For local treatment, you need to use painkillers, as well as ointments that accelerate the healing process of the vesicles on the lips.
Herpes and pregnancy
If a pregnant woman previously had herpes, there is no danger to the health of the child. She will give the baby not only the virus itself, but also antibodies that can suppress it. But in the event that a woman first became infected with herpes due to reduced immunity, she will have a very small level of antibodies. Because of this, it can expose the fetus to infection not only with herpes, but also with many other viruses, which in the future will provoke the development of serious diseases.
A pregnant woman needs to know if herpes is transmitted through a kiss. After all, these innocent sores on the lips can harm the child. You need to protect yourself from various infections, not to kiss with a partner if he has herpes, and at the slightest sign of it, immediately consult a doctor. Thanks to timely treatment with effective and safe drugs, you can protect your child from infection.
Herpes Prevention
When thinking about whether herpes is transmitted on the lips through a kiss, it is important to remember the prevention of this disease. To protect yourself from the appearance of herpes, you must follow the recommendations of doctors on a healthy lifestyle. First of all, it is necessary to deal with strengthening immunity. This will help sports, the use of healthy products, the rejection of bad habits. Herpetic vaccine can be used as prophylaxis. It is placed strictly under the supervision of an immunologist.
In addition to the above measures, you must adhere to the following:
- To wash hands. Frequent hand washing with antibacterial soap significantly reduces the possibility of infection with herpes. Being in public places, you need to constantly keep an antiseptic gel for your hands.
- Use personal towel and utensils.
- Try not to contact people with a cold.
Kissing with infected herpes is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, infection can not be avoided even by those who have sufficiently strong immunity.