A 25-year-old male asked:
if someone has herpes on their hand. herpes whitlow. and shakes your hand. no visible cuts on your hand. but are dry. odds contracting herpes that w?
1 doctor answer
Dr. Hunter Handsfield answered
53 years experience Infectious Disease
Almost zero chance: Unless the whitlow is open and weeping, there is little if any infection risk. I have never heard of herpes being transmitted by shaking hands. However, it is important that people with herpes whitlow not allow the infected finger come in contact with other persons' eyes, mouth, or genital area, e.g. during sex or foreplay.
Answered on Feb 12, 2017
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A member asked:
Dr. Martin Raff answered
56 years experience Infectious Disease
Unlikely: If you touched the ulcer directly with a finger which had a wound you might get this, but by secondary transfer this would be quite unusual. Nothing i ... Read More
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Timothy Raichle answered
22 years experience Obstetrics and Gynecology
Almost zero: Herpes is not transmitted through hand-to-hand contact.
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A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Martin Raff answered
56 years experience Infectious Disease
Herpes simplex: This virus will not infect other people by transmission through unbroken skin. If there is an ulcer on the finger then the virus can shed and be infe ... Read More
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Wallner answered
41 years experience Gynecology
Touching a cold sore: ..Is direct contact and could be a cause. Touching someone's genital organs is more likely a cause of whitlow.
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