Two most common herpes virus are HSV-1 which causes labial cold sore and HSV-2 which brings genital cold sore. The symptoms of herpes are usually mild and unnoticeable. You will only realize that you might be suffering from herpes once it flares up and show physical disruptions. In fact, 1 out of 4 person might be infected by herpes virus which in fact, is already inside the body. The possibility of the virus to be triggered and cause flare ups is based on how good your immune system is and whether or not you have the triggering factors, such as stress, hormonal cycle, or poor metabolism. Herpes is a contagious skin problem. Hence, having a herpes virus although inactive will bring you into a thought of whether or not you are able to give a blood donation.
How is herpes transferred?
Herpes is indeed contagious disease which is transferred from one person to another. You will know you are having herpes when clear symptoms are seen during outbreak. These symptoms might be fever blisters which are accompanied by itching and tingling. The disease is passed only when the virus present in the skin. However, this can be with or without these symptoms. Herpes virus presence in the skin without causing visible symptoms is called asymptomatic shedding. As herpes is already inside certain persons, getting a herpes, especially the genital one does not have an exact relation with hygiene. You get a herpes transmitted solely because you are sexually active. Genital herpes, therefore, cannot be an indicator of whether or not your partner is cheating. Genital herpes which is caused by HSV-2 is transferred through sexual intercourse. This include oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
Labial herpes, which is caused by HSV-1 is quite a similar thing. This herpes kind is also called oral herpes, because it mostly happen around mouth and lips, and nose. The symptoms are also similar to the HSV-2-caused herpes. This includes burning, itching, tingling, and fever blisters. Labial herpes is transmitted among persons through direct skin contacts. You may carry your oral herpes virus without also noticing. This will outbreak at the time when you have the triggers. You might have got the virus or transfer it to other people through kissing or touching infected areas. However, when herpes virus leaves living cells, it dies. Hence, people with herpes may share shower, washing machine, and swimming pool with others without worrying of passing on herpes virus.
Can herpes transferred through blood?
If you are having a herpes or have ever experienced its outbreak sometime in your lifespan, you might ask about your chance of donating blood. In fact, with herpes virus, you are still be able to donate blood. This is because herpes is not present in blood and cannot be transferred through donated blood. Herpes, both genital and labial are passed through direct contact from skin to skin. It is not likely to pass through shared facilities and blood transfusion. Herpes virus of HSV-1 and HSV-2 commonly lie on your labial areas—nose, lips, and mouth, and genital area. They cannot be found in your blood, so that you don’t need to worry passing on this virus through your donated blood.
How to minimize herpes transmission?
There are some ways of preventing herpes transmission among people. Wearing condoms while having sexual intercourse is one common way which can help reducing the risk of getting transmitted, although the possibility is less than 100 percent. However, some long-term married couple might decide to have this intercourse without protection. This means, they choose to deal with the possibility of getting a genital herpes from the one having the virus. As a person with herpes is not always contagious, it is possible to have an intercourse without transmitting or being transmitted a herpes virus.
Strengthen immune system also helps preventing herpes transmission and cutting down your outbreak frequencies. Keeping your stress level low and living a healthy lifestyle might help preventing asymptomatic viral shedding.
When you are having herpes outbreak, touching the infected area might spread the disease. Hence, it is important to wash your hands after put some medications onto the infection. Wash also the areas that have been accidentally touched. Stop doing sexual intercourse while having an outbreak also minimizes the possibility of transmitting a genital herpes. Checking yourself for herpes virus potential can also be done to limit herpes transmission over spouses. Regular Pap test can detect early sign of genital herpes through Pap smear.