Can Children Catch Oral Herpes?
Can Children Catch Herpes?
It sounds like a pretty shocking question to ask doesn’t it? When people think of herpes, they usually think of a nasty sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted between sexually promiscuous people. Although herpes can sometimes be transmitted through sexual intercourse, what most people don’t realize is that over half the population also have herpes simplex type I, more commonly known as oral herpes. You want to know something else? Most of those people contracted it as children from harmless playing and harmless kissing.
The herpes simplex viruses are transmitted by skin to skin contact. What this means is that you do not have to have sexual intercourse or be physically intimate with a person to get it. If you are a parent with oral herpes and you give your children good-bye kisses before they go to school, or good-night kisses before they go to bed, then it is possible for you give them oral herpes.
I know you probably want to freak out, but it is a commonly spread virus between children. Even if you do not have herpes type I, if a classmate of your child has it, and they share a drink, give playful hugs, put pencils in their mouths and then share them – it can also be spread that way. Because the virus is so easily spread, many doctors consider it “harmless”. It is in fact harmless to the extent that it is not fatal. However the cold sores or outbreaks themselves can be painful and very unsightly. If your child does happen to catch oral herpes, make sure they understand that they should not share cups, they should avoid touching their mouths and then rubbing their eyes and practice good hygiene in general.
You may also be interested in:
PositiveSingles.com - the best, most trusted and largest anonymous STD dating site!
