In this post I am going to answer several questions related to the spread of herpes. The question at the top of this article is answered in the affirmative. Herpes is a contagious disease.
There are three main ways in which it is spread:
Contagion between two people.
Transmission from mother to child at birth.
Contagion from one part of the body to another part of the same person.
Herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex; there are two types: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2.
This virus is transmitted by contact; it is not transmitted through the respiratory tract or blood.
Person-to-person transmission
This form of transmission is the most common; it occurs most often when a person with a herpes outbreak has contact with a healthy person.
The most common ways in which this form of transmission occurs are kissing and sexual relations, including oral sex.
Herpes can also be spread even if the infected person does not have an outbreak. It is sufficient that the virus is active in the secretions of the infected person at the time of contact.
Another way of transmission is through contact with objects that have been used by a person infected with the virus.
You should also know that if you are infected with one of the viruses you can become infected with the other.
Can you catch herpes with a condom?
A condom is a protection during sexual relations, but it does not fully protect against the spread of herpes. When one partner has an outbreak, he or she should avoid sexual relations.
Herpes on penis and herpes on vagina are painful and very contagious.
Transmission of herpes from mother to child
The mother does not transmit the virus to her child during pregnancy, but at birth the baby can become infected if the mother has an outbreak or the virus is present in her vagina or vulva, even if she does not have an outbreak.
All pregnant women should inform their doctor if she is infected with the herpes virus.
Contagion from one part of the body to another
This form of transmission is also possible. For this reason, when a person has an outbreak of herpes, he or she should avoid touching healthy parts of his or her body after touching infected parts without first washing his or her hands thoroughly.
The use of hydrocolloid patches to cover the lesions helps prevent spread between different parts of the body of the same person in cases of cold sores.
