Is It possible for someone to be born with a trait for herpes?? I mean someone had to start the whole thing somehow... anyway, the reason I'm asking is because I get cold sores all the time, but I've never done anything.
2007-03-25 11:11:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
It's not a "trait" someone is born with. Herpes is NOT inherited from a parent like colorblindness or curly hair.
Chances of a baby being born with herpes is VERY rare, but it can happen. If the mother is having an outbreak the baby can contract the virus as it is coming through the birth canal. The baby basically rubs against the sores when it is coming through the birth canal and vagina opening and it contracts the virus that way. Being born with herpes is a less then 1% chance. And, if a baby is born with herpes there is a 25% chance it will be fatal.
If you have never done anything sexually, you probably got the virus from kissing someone who has it. A LOT of children and babies contract the virus from being kissed by another family member such as a mom or dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. A person can also get cold sores from sharing things with a person who has them. Sharing a drink, chap stick, lip stick, cigarette, or basically anything a person with cold sores has their lips on can spread the virus to another person if they put their lips on it.
Don't beat yourself up over it though. It's estimated 75 - 80% of the WORLD has cold sores. It is VERY common.
2007-03-26 05:50:37 · answer #1 · answered by Alli 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cold sores are a form of herpes, but not necessarily the STD that shows up on your genitals. It doesnt mean you "have herpes" but you kind of do? Everyone that gets cold sores is infected with that type of herpes. Its VERY common and easy to get, and NOTHING to worry about. Try ABREVA for your sores, it is silly expensive, but works SO FAST!!
Here is some more information:
http://www.skinsite.com/info_herpes_simplex.htm
2007-03-25 11:17:01 · answer #2 · answered by Kristin E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it can be carried from mother to child. Cold sores are a different kind than the sexual kind, cold sores are more common.
2007-03-25 11:15:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As mentioned above you can get them from your mother when you're a baby. The virus lays dormant until you are stressed or ill and other reasons you immune system is at a low point.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358/DSECTION=1
2007-03-25 11:21:01 · answer #4 · answered by Sancira 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can be passed from mother to child either whilst or after the baby is born.
2007-03-25 11:17:54 · answer #5 · answered by shaz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah this happened to my sister. we think that someone kissed her when she was a baby. lol i know its a far stretch but shes had them since she was literally a baby, and... nither one of my parents ever got/get them. so yeah.. either its a kind of trait/gene noones really connected to it yet, or.. whatever.. lol
sorry about the fact that you have to live with that though
2007-03-25 11:32:01 · answer #6 · answered by toma_romato 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cold sores can be picked up anywhere, they are not sexually transmitted
2007-03-26 14:28:52 · answer #7 · answered by Krystal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋