A member asked:

My mom barely found out she has herpes we though they were just cold sores and i shared chap stick when she had a bit of an out break can i get herpes?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Hunter Handsfield answered

Specializes in Infectious Disease

Very little risk: Cold sores are always due to herpes; they're the same thing. Lip balms like Chapstick contain preservatives that would probably kill the herpes virus and prevent transmission. The chance of transmission may not be zero, but it's very low. Half of all adults have oral herpes, and as the child of a parent with oral herpes, you could already have it, without symptoms. But nothing to worry about!

Answered 2/14/2016

1.6k views

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