Transmissão de Herpes: Contato Direto Necessário; Não via Bebidas Compartilhadas

HSV-1/2 transmit via direct mucosal/skin contact with active lesion or asymptomatic shedding site.

Transmission Routes

• Kissing (oral HSV-1)
• Oral-genital contact (HSV-1 → genital, HSV-2 → oral)
• Genital-genital contact
• Vertical (mother-to-neonate during delivery)
• Autoinoculation (touch lesion → eye/other site)

Not Transmitted By

• Shared drinks, utensils, towels (virus desiccates rapidly on fomites; theoretical only).
• Toilet seats, swimming pools, hot tubs.
• Blood transfusion (screened; rare).

Prevention

• Suppressive antiviral (valacyclovir) ↓ shedding/transmission.
• Condoms/dental dams (partial protection).
• Abstinence during prodrome/outbreak.
• Disclosure to partners.

Focus prevention on direct contact; fomite transmission is negligible.