Herpes Infections - Prevention

The only way to prevent a herpes infection is by avoiding contact with an infected person. While good advice, that policy may be difficult to follow. Many infected people do not know that they carry the virus. Or they may not be concerned because the virus is in a latent stage. In the case of genital herpes, some people may choose not to tell their sexual partners that they are infected.

Having a man use a condom during sexual intercourse can provide partial protection against genital herpes. The condom reduces, but does not eliminate, the chance of spreading HSV2.

A number of suggestions have been made for reducing the risk of having a reoccurrence of oral herpes. These include:

• Avoid exposure to the sun, which appears to trigger outbreaks of oral herpes.
• Avoid touching cold sores, since doing so may spread the virus to other parts of the face or body.
• Wash hands thoroughly and frequently, so that an infected person is less likely to transfer HSV1 to other persons.
• Avoid physical contact with other people when one has an active infection.
• Wear gloves when applying ointment to a child's sore.
• Be especially careful in handling young babies by not kissing their eyes or mouth if you are infected.
• Monitor children with cold sores so that they do not transmit the virus to other children by way of toys.
• Maintain good general health to reduce the risk of contracting a cold or the flu, which are known to bring on cold sores.