Is Herpetic Whitlow Contagious?
Is Herpetic Whitlow Contagious?
Many people, especially those who are close to individuals who are infected with herpetic whitlow want to know the answer to this question. Because it is an infection, many people wonder whether or not it can be passed on, and if it can be, how easily, and what precautions can be taken to prevent that passing on from happening. I hope this brief write-up could inform people well enough about it and answer clearly the question “Is herpetic whitlow contagious?” as well as other basic but important questions that branch from that.
First of all, herpetic whitlow is a lesion on a person’s finger caused by the herpes simplex virus. One of the ways by which to get it is something called autoinoculation, which means you a person gets it from his or herself. The herpes simplex virus is normally found in the genital and oral areas in a person’s body. When a person’s hand (fingers) gets in contact with a lesion in the genital or oral parts caused by the herpes simplex virus, he or she runs the risk of having herpetic whitlow. In the case of small children who are fond of sucking their thumbs, when they have low immunity and at the same time have lesions in their mouths that are due to the herpes simplex virus, they are also in danger or having herpetic whitlow. Again, because this is how easy it is to get this disease, the big question that continues to ring in our minds is, “Is herpetic whitlow contagious?” We will get to that soon.
Symptoms
A person who has contracted herpetic whitlow will not normally perceive it immediately. This is because the signs and symptoms do not appear right after a person gets infected by it. At the first stage of herpetic whitlow, a person’s infected finger will experience swelling, pain, and increased tenderness in the infected area. After that, the swelling will become more pronounced, and blisters will grow from it, red and round in appearance, which will later on burst. This is usually a painful event, which is accompanied by a minute explosion of a watery substance that was kept inside the blister. Then after a while the burst blisters will dry up. In two to three weeks, the infected area will start to show signs of recovery. And now, finally, we get to the question, “Is herpetic whitlow contagious?”
Are people around an infected person in danger of getting herpetic whitlow?
The answer is yes. This is because the virus that caused it is highly contagious and is easily spread. So how does it get spread around? When a person touches another person’s open lesion (caused by the herpes simplex virus) by accident. Doctors and mothers and partners are very much in danger. Especially during sexual intercourse, an infected person can easily spread the herpes simplex virus to his or her partner. So it is advisable that once the signs of herpes simples exist in a person, maintain a bit of a safe distance and have the person treated first. Children and other individuals can wrap infected fingers with band-aids to prevent other people from touching the infected area. By now I’ve already answered the question, “Is herpetic whitlow contagious?”