Question:
Do any of you already have children? What are the chances of me passing it to them? They are 2 and 5. One still in diapers. I am so paranoid!! Thank You

Answer:
Hi I was wondering the same thing?? I have a 2.5 year old and last week I saw a little red area on her privates and freaked. I have been sick over this for the past week. Everything I have read says no that it can't be passed from the hand (if you had a lesion and didn't wash and then changed a diaper). I am so glad there is someone else concerned about this. I had a C-section with her (had a lesion after 1.5 years of none! Very bad timing 3 weeks before she was due my water broke and I had a sore) so I know it didn't get passed @ birth. I was afraid to take her to the Dr and have it checked because everything I have read about kids getting genital herpes says sexual abuse should be looked into (Oh My God!!-I never have even spanked my children) Whenever I have a lesion (which is about once every couple months or sometimes not even for a full year) I wash my hands with ALCOHOL!!! I am very obsessive about this. Anyhow I called her Dr about 3 days after I saw it and he said it could have been anything and that it is virtually impossible to transmit this way. But is it? I am going absolutely crazy thinking that I gave it to her if I wasn't aware of a outbreak or something. I have never given it to my husband after 8 years or anyone I know of so is it that easy to transmit?
Any answers would be great.
Thanks

Answer:
the only way you would transmit it with your hand is if you had a lesion on your hand. And it would be more likely that you would transmit it to her arms, head, chest, or other parts that you touch more frequently than her genitals. The only way to transmit it from your genital infection to her genitals is if your genitals came in contact, which I fully believe hasn't and will not happen! Technically, the virus CAN live outside for a brief moment, but certainly not long enough for you to get out of the restroom and get her changed. If you are concerned enough after reading this, then I wouldn't hesitate to call the pediatrician. It's a good thing to know that they would look into the possibility of sexual abuse, you want them to be looking out for her like that. It doesn't mean they would assume you're abusing her. But I highly doubt it's even worth that, honestly.

By the way, I was told this information by Dr. Lawrence Stanberry, who is a leader in the field of neonatal herpes (some great info out there from him in articles online), b/c he helped treat my sons and explained a LOT about herpes to me that I didn't know before. So I definately trust his information.

Answer:
Thank you for the response. It is so nice to know there are other people out there that take the time to answer other peoples concerns. I am sorry to hear both your children have this. That makes total sense and I never even thought about it (transmitting it to parts of her body that you touch all the time-arms, legs etc.... I did call her Dr and he said that same things about not being able to get it from my hands etc.... but I have OCD and that doesn't help in instances like these. My mind goes nuts and I think if there is a remote chance than it will happen (whole different ball game). Anyhow thank you again for getting back to me.

Answer:
I am glad to see I am not the only one freaking out about my infant son catching this disease from me. I have totally become a freak about washing my hands, not letting the baby near my dirty towels, or ANY dirty towels in the house touching him, nothing. I am so afraid of passing this crap onto him. It is funny, I dealt with my "problem" just fine where I am concerned and having a loving partner has helped me too. I am not too worried about my older son, as I do not have as much "hands on" contact with him, he is 10 for crying out loud, he would rather be out playing, then hugging mom, hahahaha!

But since I have had the baby, I have turned into a real nutcase. I would feel horrible if I passed this onto him. Then recently, he has been really sick with a flu/cold and then I noticed he has a rash on his little bum, and it look different than a normal baby rash. Naturally, I am freaking out! I can't imagine with all the care I take to wash my hands, that he would catch it from me, but who knows?

Then logic takes over and says :Hey woman, if your little one had HSV of any kind around his rectum and bum , he would be SCREAMING in pain..(think of how it hurts US) and he doesn't. So, I am just keeping a watch on it, but it made me realize how much this fucking (scuse the french) annoying little disease is ruling my life. I try to stay strong and not let it, but when it comes to my kids, that is a whole different story.

I hate this disease. Just hate it. It is robbing me (well, I am LETTING it rob me) of spending joyous time with my son. I am too worried about it getting to him all the time. I feel somewhat better reading HSVMOMS post, and I hope you will maybe post some links here for the rest of us moms by that doctor you mentioned. I know I would really appreciate reading what HE has to say...I get so much mumbo jumbo online here (like is you have active lesions, you are contagious, and should NOT touch babies!) I am making myself ill over this! Thanks for your help!! And thanks for letting meknow I am not the only one freaking out!

Answer:
Do any of you already have children? What are the chances of me passing it to them? They are 2 and 5. One still in diapers. I am so paranoid!! Thank You Why do you feel that you are going to pass herpes to your children? Herpes is passed through skin to skin contact only and that's usually through sex or kissing.

Have you had the chance to read the free herpes handbook over on westoverheights.com yet? I think you will feel a lot better if you take the time to read that handbook.

Hang in there,

Angela :D

Answer:
I'm not a mom(someday hope to be)but I have been a nanny for years now.I'm really not worried at all about passing on my herpes to them.I have genital herpes and there is no way my genitals will ever come into contact with them.That's the most likely way to get it as yoshi said,skin to skin contact.

I'm always extra carefull when washing my hands after using the toilette when I am having an OB.I scrub up and sometimes put on that anti-bac stuff and feel fine after.

You pretty much just have to use common sense and good hygein and things should be just fine.

About washing your hands with alcohol though,that sounds really drying.Since I am a germ freak and wash so often the tops of my hands get so chapped and dry from regular soap and water I'd be afraid to try alcohol.To avoid dryness I found a great hand cream called Herbacin!!

Answer:
I agree with Yoshi and Cherry. There is no reason to be concerned about passing genital herpes to your children. Transmission requires contact with infected areas and I can't think of a reason that you would need your genitals to be in contact with your kids.

I also agree that there is no reason to wash your hands with alcohol. Studies have shown that in uninfected people, the viron takes up to an hour to invade a host cell and that simple soap and water are all it takes to prevent transmission.

I would suggest you talk to your kids' pediatrician about your concerns. S/He should be able to explain the physiological processes involved in transmission and can help you relax and enjoy your kids' good healt.

Answer:
And of course -- I agree with hsvmom!

Angela :D