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What Causes Oral Herpes Infection?
Question: I was looking for some help and understanding today when it comes to oral herpes and autoinnoculation. I've read both online and heard from speaking to doctors face to face so many different thoughts on this subject that I'm not sure what's true and what's not. I've heard that autoinnoculation is very common and I've also heard that it is extremely rare due to the bodies supply of antibodies after the first primary outbreak. I'm having a hard time here sorting fact from fiction and truth from myth. I have seen two general practitioners and one ophthalmologist in person and even they seemed unsure about how common or rare autoinnoculation is. I've done extensive Google searches on this and all those sources seem to claim that autoinnoculation is extremely rare however I know Google sources are not always accurate. I just want so good highly supportive proven facts about autoinnoculation and how rare or common it truly is. I've even had a doctor on here tell me before that autoinnoculation is so rare and that I now have a supply of antibodies that I could touch an infective sore and touch my eye and chances of the virus spreading to my eyes in the form of ocular herpes would be minuscule at best, then I had another doctor on here tell me that autoinnoculation is very very common. I'm so lost on this subject. If it makes a difference I'm a 29 year old XXXXXXX male, I've been getting outbreaks on my lips for 5 years now and thus far have never had a blister anywhere else on my face or body, and in a typical year I get anywhere from 2-6 actual blister outbreaks, and I have never taken any antiviral medications for them as both my general practitioners feel that since I heal in about 7 days and I don't get outbreaks monthly then I have no need for antiviral medication.
Brief Answer:
You are seeing flareups of the same infection.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully gone through your query and understand your concerns. I feel sad that athough you have visited a number of doctors, none of them have been able to enlighten you on such a simple topic. Let me explain it to you. Herpes like many other viruses, affects us when our immunity is low. Cold reduces our immunity and increases our propensity to get the virus. The virus is found in the fluid contained within the blisters that a person with herpes develops. Thus, direct contact apart from reduced immunity is required to get affected by the virus. But once infected, the virus persists within the nerve endings of the respective dermatome (area supplied by that nerve), for a lifetime. Thus the likelihood of the infection surfacing whenever the immunity dips, remains. That is the reason of your blisters resurfacing from time to time but over the same region. It is not due to autoinoculation (which means that the infection is being re-introduced from your own infection). Autoinfection or autoinoculation is not very common but can occur in severely immunocompromised patients. It is unlikely to occur in normal individuals even if the immunity dips. For it to occur, the viral load needs to be quite high to be able to overpower the existing immunity.
I hope that I have been able to explain the scenario to you. Feel free to ask me back in case of further queries, if any.
Regards
You are seeing flareups of the same infection.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully gone through your query and understand your concerns. I feel sad that athough you have visited a number of doctors, none of them have been able to enlighten you on such a simple topic. Let me explain it to you. Herpes like many other viruses, affects us when our immunity is low. Cold reduces our immunity and increases our propensity to get the virus. The virus is found in the fluid contained within the blisters that a person with herpes develops. Thus, direct contact apart from reduced immunity is required to get affected by the virus. But once infected, the virus persists within the nerve endings of the respective dermatome (area supplied by that nerve), for a lifetime. Thus the likelihood of the infection surfacing whenever the immunity dips, remains. That is the reason of your blisters resurfacing from time to time but over the same region. It is not due to autoinoculation (which means that the infection is being re-introduced from your own infection). Autoinfection or autoinoculation is not very common but can occur in severely immunocompromised patients. It is unlikely to occur in normal individuals even if the immunity dips. For it to occur, the viral load needs to be quite high to be able to overpower the existing immunity.
I hope that I have been able to explain the scenario to you. Feel free to ask me back in case of further queries, if any.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thus far i have only noticed blisters on my lips. My fear is spreading them to my nose, eyes, genetials, etc by autoinnoculation. So autoinnoculation is not a common instance? What about autoinnoculation when there are no visible bliters?
Brief Answer:
You need not worry about autoinoculation
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Let me assure you that there are a number of strains affecting us. The variety that causes labial herpes (herpes on lips) is different from the one that causes genital herpes. Although doing acts like fellatio and cunnilingus with a person with XXXXXXX genital herpes can lead to labial herpes, the reverse is quite unusual. Autoinoculation from labial herpes will not cause genital herpes.
In cases where the lesions have subsided, i.e. when there are no active/apparent blisters, no spread occurs. So autoinoculation is out of question. It is only if you have a high viral load and are reasonably immunocompromised that the secretions from the blisters can affect your eyes. For all practical possibility you need not worry about that.
Hope that I could clarify your queries. In case you found my answer to be helpful, I would be glad if you close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
You need not worry about autoinoculation
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Let me assure you that there are a number of strains affecting us. The variety that causes labial herpes (herpes on lips) is different from the one that causes genital herpes. Although doing acts like fellatio and cunnilingus with a person with XXXXXXX genital herpes can lead to labial herpes, the reverse is quite unusual. Autoinoculation from labial herpes will not cause genital herpes.
In cases where the lesions have subsided, i.e. when there are no active/apparent blisters, no spread occurs. So autoinoculation is out of question. It is only if you have a high viral load and are reasonably immunocompromised that the secretions from the blisters can affect your eyes. For all practical possibility you need not worry about that.
Hope that I could clarify your queries. In case you found my answer to be helpful, I would be glad if you close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
As far as i know i am resonably healthy. I go to a general practitioner every year and have routine generic blood work done and it has never shown anything else
Brief Answer:
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
That is exactly the reason for which I told you not to worry.
Stay relaxed.
Regards
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
That is exactly the reason for which I told you not to worry.
Stay relaxed.
Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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