What Are The Chances Of HSV 1 Through Skin Contact With Infected Spit?

Posted on Wed, 15 Mar 2017

Question: i was purposely spit on and the person that spit on my face has hsv 1 but has been dormat for a long time. Is it possible to contract the virus by the spit if it landed in my eye or mouth?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
There is a risk of transmission of hsv

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist).
I have gone through your query and i have noted your concern.
There is risk if saliva had HSV.
Normally an asymptomatic person would shed HSV in small amounts in his/her saliva from time to time.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (7 minutes later)

she said she has not gotten any cold sores since she was a teenager.
it was a lot of spit that came in direct contact with my face.
she is now 63. I have not seen any cold sores as long as ive known her. but because it was a lot of spit in contact with my face possibly going in my mouth and eyes. i wanted to make sure

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Risk is less but not Zero

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Obviously the risk is very less since she has been asymptomatic for so long and was asymotomatic when this happened. However most of HSV tansmissions will occur during asymptomatic phases sometimes from those who are not even aware that they carry this virus.

Regards

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D