To catch a cold sore from popcorn

[ArryArryPotter]

DH has a cold sore and just shared a bag of popcorn with the kids with some finger licking. Am really annoyed as I think there’s a chance they’ll catch the cold sore virus from this. DH says no risk as there was no kissing or skin to skin. Am guessing there is nothing I can do about it now but AIBU?

I’m late 40’s and have been getting cold sores since a child. They hurt, make me feel ill and are unsightly.
if I have a flare up I do everything possible to avoid infecting my son with the virus - and I can’t believe some people are saying it’s just a cold sore - it’s a virus that will be with whoever catches it for life.

However OP I think the risk is quite small in this instance.

@ThursdayTomorrow

Why would anyone worry about catching a coldsore? I honestly wouldn’t think twice about it.

Have you ever had one?

One of my family members gets them and fucking hates it. Especially during her teen years. The way they look makes her feel self conscious, they really hurt and they are something she will have to put up with for her whole life.

It's very dismissive of many people's experience to imply they aren't anything to worry about.

Well DH and I have know each other for more than 40 years and been married for most of that time. He has cold sores and neither DS nor I have ever got them. If he has a flare up we're careful about sharing glasses and you bet I wouldn't snog him.

The finger licking sounds a bit yuk anyway but doesn't sound like a huge risk I would discourage it for the yuk factor alone.

YANBU
People with cold sores should be careful not to spread them. That includes sharing drinks, food, face cloths, lip balms, etc.

Your DH was being inconsiderate. He should have poured his portion of popcorn into a seperate bowl.

In fact, the sharing a bag of popcorn with finger licking is disgusting and unhygienic even without a cold sore. Just pour the popcorn into individual bowls.

Herpes virus actually affects mood. It seems to be chicken and egg.

No idea what causes a total lack of empathy and the desire to be horrible online.

They are horrible (I get them) but as pp said your kids will have been exposed for years, since birth, as you shed the virus before it's visible.

Anyone who thinks "I get cold sores but I'm careful so my kids never got it" is kidding themselves, a test would show their kids have been exposed but they just don't get the sores. This is actually the best situation to be in though, as they don't need to worry about getting it.

I do not get the mentality that it's not a big deal and it doesn't matter if people catch a recurrent, infection disease off you.

Keep your viruses to yourselves. Just becusse you're used to having crusty sores on your face/genitals doesn't make it acceptable to pass it on.

You can catch it from sharing drinks so there is a very slim chance. I would want a blanket rule that he doesn't share anything with the kids.

It's not an STD. It's a virus which, like colds, flu, covid, chickenpox and any number of random viruses, can be passed on through close proximity/contact/body fluids (which includes tears, saliva, etc). The H simplex virus could be passed on through sex and could be located around sexual organs due to that contact, but that doesn't make it a sexually transmitted disease.

Stating a basic fact isn’t being horrible

If this is a genuine concern the OP seems to be suffering with quite severe levels of anxiety that is perfectly treatable

Many of the posts on this thread are the reason those of us who get cold sores feel so self conscious.

Yes, it is a big deal they are fucking painful!

Don’t be silly, having basic food hygiene standards isn’t having ‘quite severe levels’ of health anxiety that requires MH intervention. 🤣

Gosh next up, go get help for your “health anxiety” if you think you should -wash your hands after using the loo,
-washing you hands after handling raw meat,
-not tongue kiss your dog
-not lick your hands and then use spit to clean your kids face

the OP seems to be suffering with quite severe levels of anxiety

You and I are reading a different thread because she really doesn't!

Get a grip.

I have the cold sore virus. Did I ask for it. No.

Have I felt shit as a grown woman going to work with a massive weepy scab on my face. Yes.

Is it easily avoidable when you're sharing food and can easily decant some popcorn into another bowl. Yes.

It's not poor mental health it's not setting your kids up for monthly shit on your face when it's not necessary. Idiot

I think you have cold sores confused with leprosy,
You don’t need skin to skin contact to pass on the cold sore virus

”Cold sores are sometimes called oral herpes because the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes them. This virus is very common and highly contagious. It spreads through saliva or close contact — often through kissing or by sharing utensils, straws, towels or lip balm with someone who has a cold sore.”

Yes it can spread by licking your fingers while sharing the same bag of popcorn because it spreads via saliva.

@RaverQuavers herpes can be spread by fomites so maybe crack a book.

@RaverQuavers Please seek some professional help for your down right bitchiness. Feel sorry for you being such a cow.

@ArryArryPotter you’re not wrong to feel this way. Most people saying it’s no big deal are the ones that get cold sores, and they just want everyone e,se to have them.

i don’t have them, neither do my kids or DH. If I did, I’d be careful. It’s like people who say if someone in the household gets d&v then everyone gets it - never happened to us - it’s basic hygiene.

@ArryArryPotter You're right, he shouldn’t be sharing food like this when he has a cold sore. He also needs to be washing his hands more often and making sure he has a separate towel.

Brilliant.
and very true, there’s a definite subset of people who think if you wash your hands or would rather not get ill given the chance (especially if suggested that they might keep their germs to themselves) that you should be medicated for anxiety.
Which is also as bloody laughable as “see your GP”.

@RaverQuavers Yes it can! Utter fool.

It's alright everyone.

@RaverQuavers might be diagnosed with ignorance but at least she's lucky enough to get away with herpes despite their lack of basic biology.