Hi,

Thank you for your question,

Yes this virus can lie dormant in the nerves of the spine and cranial nerves for many

years. Many people have this virus in their nerves but never gives a break out lesions.

so it can lie dormant for even life time.

Yes many factors like stress, infection, low immunity can bring on the attack.

Around 60-70% of population is effected in many areas.

The characteristic rash is like a sore which begins as blisters and are these are often

grouped in clusters.

After this stage, they break open and form ulcers in the skin or mucous membranes.

Crusts/scabs form over the ulcers and eventually fall and the tissue heals.In many

cases there is super imposed bacterial infection and that can give whitish lesions.

This can take 7-14 days for complete resolution of symptoms.

Acyclovir can be used to lessen the number of attacks and to decrease the duration of

th active infection.

This infection is almost resistant to treatment with antiviral as the antivirals do not

penetrate the nerve in which the virus hides.

I hope this answers your question.Dr S.A.Alam40352.4522905903

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

If the other person had active lesion of herpes on the lip then there are 100% chance of transmission.

If there are no lesions on the lips or face then it is less likely to transmit.

see this web address most of the lesion look like this

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00770

if you have lesion of the face that resembles the one in the picture(above link) then you have herpes infection.

I hope this answers your question

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

No this cannot be transmitted by kiss on the cheeks as there are no active lesions.

yes sharing towel can increase the chance of transmission if fresh active virus is present.

By this method the transmission rate is low.

I hope this answers your question.

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

This virus has a predilection for wet areas like lips,oral cavity, anal areas, vagina.

complete dry surfaces have less chance of getting infected if you touch them.

Yes if you have an active lesion this should not be handled because

1) it will spread

2) it will get superimposed bacterial infection.

So yes touching other parts can spread this infection.

I hope this helps.

I hope this answers your question.

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

Yes stress/anxiety are known to bring on the active lesions of herpes. so yes this can bring

on the attack.

I hope this answers your question.

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

Over counter meds like tylenol and advil can be used to help with the associated

symptoms like fever,headache. but antivirals are not available without prescription so if

you have severe infection that is not resolving over 7-10 days and multiple attacks over

one year then you need oral antivirals to decrease the intensity and frequency of attacks.

Antiviral creams are also useful and can be applied to kill the active virus in the skin

lesions, they are also not available without prescription in many countries. you can

check you local pharmacy for its availability if available then it will help to resolve the

lesion earlier and will decrease the chances of spread.

I hope this helps.

Hi,

Thank you for your input,

It takes around 7-10 days in most cases when there is no superimposed bacterial

infection. Bacterial infections can prolong the attack. white lesions(or pus) on the sore are

representive of bacterial infection.