Can you get herpes from kissing?

Herpes simplex is a common virus that can be transmitted by direct contact with another person. You can get herpes simplex when you kiss or touch the mouth, genitals, and sometimes nearby skin of a person who has the virus.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are the most common types of herpes viruses. They can both cause oral and genital herpes infections, and neither has a cure.

However, these types of viruses do not stay active all the time. The virus stays dormant in your body and may cause outbreaks every now and then, particularly when you’re exposed to triggers like psychological stress, hormonal changes, and sunlight. Outbreaks refer to noticeable symptoms for you or others.

Kissing is one way the herpes simplex virus can be transmitted from person to person.

Do you get oral herpes or genital herpes from kissing?

You can get both oral herpes and genital herpes from kissing.

According to the American Sexual Health Association, you can contract the herpes virus if a person with oral herpes kisses or licks your genitals. You can also get it from someone with genital herpes by direct genital contact during sexual intercourse.

You can get oral herpes from kissing the mouth and surrounding areas of a person with the virus on their mouth. Although rare, you may also develop oral herpes from kissing or touching with your mouth the genitals of a person with genital herpes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), herpes simplex transmission is possible even when the person with the virus experiences no symptoms at the time.

That’s because of an event called viral shedding. This refers to the virus reproducing inside your body, even if there are no active symptoms yet. This leads to an increased chance of your body releasing copies of the virus into the environment by way of your saliva and skin cells. This happens mostly in the first few months of contracting the virus and less frequently in the years after.

Differences between oral herpes and genital herpes

HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections on the mouth, throat, and lips are referred to as oral herpes. HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections on the vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, buttocks, and anus are known as genital herpes.

Oral herpes is commonly associated with HSV-1, and genital herpes is typically associated with HSV-2, even though both virus strains may cause both conditions.

Common symptoms of oral and genital herpes may include:

• blisters and sores, some of them painful and filled with fluid that can occur:
  • anywhere on the skin but typically on the lips, tongue, and throat for oral herpes
  • anywhere on the skin but typically on and around the genitals, including inside the vagina, anus, and buttocks for genital herpes
• flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes, which are more common in the first outbreak.

The first sign of oral herpes is a tingling or burning sensation. Later on, fluid-filled blisters develop at the tingling site, often around the lips or under the nose. These blisters are often referred to as cold sores.

Cold sores often grow to form several blisters in a cluster that may last days to weeks. As the sores resolve, you may see crusts develop before they fall off.

Genital herpes sores will first develop on the genitals and anus. Tingling, burning, and itching is possible during the first days after an infection. These sores are often painful.

Can you get herpes from sharing objects or drinks?

In theory, it is possible to get herpes simplex from sharing objects, including food and drinks, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). It is very rare, though.

You cannot contract the herpes virus from swimming pools, toilet seats, soaps, or public showers.

Any items that may have recently been in contact with infected saliva, open blisters, or oozing sores have a low possibility of carrying the herpes simplex virus. This includes lip balm, razors, or sex toys. 

The virus will not live on its own for long. For transmission to happen, you’d have to be in contact with these objects immediately while the virus is alive. Even then, viral transmission may not happen.

The possibility of acquiring the herpes simplex virus from an object, like cups or cutlery, is extremely low.

Treatment options for herpes viruses

Most symptoms of oral and genital herpes resolve on their own after a few weeks. Treatment usually helps with symptom relief and reducing the chance of transmission.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 have no cure yet. Once you develop an infection, these viruses remain in your body for life. However, the frequency and intensity of herpes outbreaks vary from person to person. Some people may have few or no outbreaks after developing an infection.

Treatment for herpes simplex viruses may include:

• antiviral medications like acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir)
• pain relief medications like paracetamol, naproxen, and ibuprofen
• cold sore relief over-the-counter applications like 1-docosanol (Abreva)

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Summary

You can get oral and genital herpes from kissing someone with the virus on the site of infection. Oral herpes causes sores on and around the mouth. Genital herpes causes sores on and around the genitals.

Transmission of the herpes simplex viruses is possible when the person with the virus experiences an outbreak or even when the person with the virus does not have any symptoms at the time.

There is currently no cure for oral or genital herpes. Outbreaks usually resolve on their own, but sometimes antiviral and numbing medications are recommended and prescribed for pain and discomfort relief.

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