Question:
My husband and I are both HSV 1 & 2 positive. We have a beautiful one year old girl, for whom we are now CONTINOUSLY concerned about passing it one to. We actaully only found out a month ago that we had this. I had my first outbreak over 2 years ago and test came back neg. We're concerned because before actaully knowing we had the virus we both had poor habits of not always washing out hands after using the bathroom. A little over a month ago my daughter ad a small red bump in the diaper area. Not resembling what we have at all, but like all other parents out there with the virus, you worrry when the child even gets diaper rash that it could possibly be hsv. It went away within 24 hours. Last week she had diaper rash and along with that was a small red bump again, but this time it took 3 days to go away. Its not a blister or pimple looking just a tiny red bump, but i'm not sure if it looks different on infants than on us. We have an appt. to talk to her ped. tonight about it and the precausions of not spreading it, however, I think I'm looking for a piece of mind as well. From someone with more exprience or knowledge.

Answer:
ya she can get it if your not being carefull.
just take a min to wash your hands is it really that hard?
soap, or your childs life.

Answer:
"soap, or your childs life."

thats sounds abit harsh... but your right - only takes a min to wash your hands.

Answer:
I have children as well and for piece of mind I now have Purell Instant hand sanitizer all around the house and in my purse.
I'm sure now that you know, you will wash your hands more frequently. I read the recommended length of time to wash for is to sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" LOL - With a one year old you need that song anyway!

The Purell just makes me feel more comfortable when I'm about to change a diaper etc. (I even double-squirt for diaper changing!)

I'm sure your daughter is fine, kids get rashes, dots and pimples all over from numerous things. I do still worry as well but the chances of it transferring are very, very small even if you did not realize you were HSV+.

Answer:
Okay we all know that hsv is contagious and that we should be concerned with not spreading it and washing our hands etc. can really help.

In all honesty, kids get all kinds of rashes for many different reasons. The bump/rash could be from food allergies, thrush, diaper rash etc. The first thing you need to do is keep baby clean and dry and take her into the pediatrician and let them take a look.

One of the good things is that even though children's immune systems are still developing they get some very healthy antibodies from mom that stay around for a while to protect them. This is not to say that you don't take every precaution to protect her you just wouldn't be doing yourself a favor by flipping out without having the dr take a look first.

Do be careful about kissing her if you get cold sores and don't let strangers kiss on her either. These are probably bigger risks than what you described in your post.

Answer:
remember you've gone a year with not the best hygiene in the world and you haven't passed it on to your baby...

While it's always a good idea to wash up (and hey, now that you are parents, you have to model the good behavior for your little girl!), the virus doesn't live long outside the body, so transmitting it from unwashed hands after going to the bathroom (and I'm thinking your hands probably aren't touching all over your skin but mostly just toilet paper) seems like it would be a rare thing if it ever happens...

Washing after the potty is really important for stopping the spread of gastrointestinal bugs, and those are spread pretty easily so develop the good habit for that purpose!

going to agree with Lonnidet & Caliope... kids get little bumps & rashes and odd things in the diaper area, and you will go insane if you start thinking it's HSV everytime.