Touching Cold Sore Worried I Have AIDS

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Get the Facts

Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores and Genital Herpes)

What Is Herpes? Herpes simplex refers to a group of viruses that infect humans. Like herpes zoster (shingles, see Fact Sheet 509 ), herpes simplex causes painful skin eruptions. Itching and tingling are usually the first signs, followed by a blister that breaks open. The infection stays dormant in nerve cells. This is called "latency." However, it can become active again with no warning. Herpes can be active without symptoms or visible signs....

Ask the Experts

Dr. Bob, very worried. Saliva came in touch with open wound,

Dr. Bob, An escort was licking my face, later i realised that i had a cut on my face. She could be HIV positive, if she is HIV positive and since her saliva comes into contact with my blood, am i at risk of getting HIV?Let me know. Thanks. I...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,Nope. Saliva does not transmit HIV. (See below. I'll reprint some basic information about HIV transmission.)Thanks for your tax-deductible donation to The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation (www.concertedeffort.org).Stay well.Dr. BobDr.... Read more »

risk of HIV from oral sex with cold sore

what are the risk of contracting hiv from someone from the act of performing oral sex when cold sore blisters are present on the lips of the partner providing the oral sex?would the use of a condom reduce the risk? it is possible for the virus to be...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Theoretically, if you have some sort of active sore or lesion and that comes into contact with HIV infected fluids, there would be an increased risk of HIV transmission. A barrier that prevents fluids from coming into contact with the sore would... Read more »

cold sore question

My boyfriend (who is +) currently has a cold sore on the side of his tongue. I've pecked him a dry kiss hello several times in the past week, with each kiss lasting a very short time. Is this a risk for contracting the virus that causes the...

Response from David A. Reznik, D.D.S.

Grady Health System

We still do not know what causes aphthous ulcerations or cold sores that appear on non-fixed or non-keratinized tissues such as the floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa (cheeks) or lateral border of the tongue. We do know that aphthous ulcerations are... Read more »

old cold sore and oral sex

Dear Ryan,I, too, must thank you for the invaluable information and insightful advice your provide in this forum. My concern is this:Last night, I received oral sex (I was the insertive partner) from a man. He had sucked my penis a few (2-3) minutes...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

It is difficult to say if you were exposed to herpes simplex virus 1 (presuming that HSV-1 was the cause of the sore you saw on his lip) because it is possible that the sore was no longer infectious. It is possible to transmit HSV-1 to the genital... Read more »

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Cold sores /hiv infection

Posted by bug, 2 Replies

Hello,
I recently had sex with a prostitute and was so drunk(and stupid) i couldn't think of any possible dangers.
The prostitute had several cold sores on her body. We had unprotected oral sex (lasted less than a minute) and 2 times protected vaginal... Read more »

cold sores....

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Hi all,Iam unaware of my hiv status, about 3 months ago(while under alot of stress) i got tiny white bumps on my upper lip and some in the corner of my mouth, I thought that it might of been cold sores, but 3 months later they haveint grown,they... Read more »

cold sores

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hi all, this is not a question if i have hiv.
about 4 months ago(while under alot of stress) on my upper lip i noticed lots of little white bumps(tiny)I thought maybe it was cold sores but 3 months later they have not burst or anything, Iam wondering... Read more »

cold sores...

Posted by Anonymous

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