raveneye

I have HSV 1, and it's not a problem at all. It tries to break out every 6 months or so (an invisible bump that only I can feel), but I just apply some styptic pencil on my lip and it's gone overnight. I got it from my mom, who has had it all her life; she apparently got it from her mom. Supposedly the virus sheds on 3 days out of 100 (in people in general) but it hasn't spread to anybody as far as I know.

Here are some interesting refs:

da Silva, L. M., A. L. S. Guimaraes, et al. (2005). "Herpes simplex virus type 1 shedding in the oral cavity of seropositive patients." Oral Diseases 11(1): 13-16.
OBJECTIVE: Investigate the frequency of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) reactivation in the oral cavity of seropositive patients with previous history of recurrent herpes labialis (recrudescent group) compared with those without any history of recrudescent lesions (asymptomatic HSV-1 infection). In addition, the relation between recrudescence and the presence of the virus in the saliva was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen individuals with previous history of herpes labialis (recrudescent group) and 11 HSV-1 seropositive asymptomatic volunteers were included in the study. Swabs were performed periodically in all subjects and the presence of HSV-1 DNA was identified by nested PCR. RESULTS: All the 25 subjects enrolled in the study, revealed at least one positive swab for HSV-1. The frequency of HSV-1 positivity in the group with recrudescent herpes labialis was not statistically different from the other group. Ten subjects of the recrudescent group presented with herpes labialis at least once during the study. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 shedding in the oral cavity occurs independently of herpes labialis recrudescence.

Koelle, D. M. and A. Wald (2000). "Herpes simplex virus: the importance of asymptomatic shedding." Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 45: 1-8.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Is frequently shed after infection of the genital or perianal area. HSV shedding, as determined by culture, occurs on about 3% of days for immunocompetent women and men, and more for persons with HIV infection or if measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most horizontal and vertical transmission of HSV occurs during unrecognized or asymptomatic shedding, and the majority of HSV-2-infected persons are unaware of their infection. Many persons with 'asymptomatic' HSV-2 infection can learn to recognize genital signs and symptoms as recurrences of HSV-2 infection. However, some shedding episodes remain truly asymptomatic even after patient education. Antiviral therapy dramatically reduces asymptomatic shedding, and trials to evaluate its effect on HSV transmission are underway.

Mindel, A. and C. Estcourt (1998). "Public and personal health implications of asymptomatic viral shedding in genital herpes." Sexually Transmitted Infections 74(6): 387-388.

Pliskin, K. L. (1995). "Vagina dentata revisited: Gender and asymptomatic shedding of genital herpes." Culture Medicine and Psychiatry 19(4): 479-501.
Medical research on genital herpes indicates that women shed herpes asymptomatically. This paper examines the medical understanding of asymptomatic shedding of herpes among women as partial knowledge, meaning biased and incomplete, based upon folk models of male and female sexual bodies and upon the structure of medical practice. The focus on women's sexual anatomy as dangerous to men and the lack of a medical specialty on male reproductive/sexual health results in blaming women for transmission of sexual diseases.

Scott, D. A., W. A. Coulter, et al. (1997). "Oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1: a review." Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine 26(10): 441-447.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and, to a lesser extent, type 2 (HSV-2) are the aetiological agents of recrudescent herpes labialis (RHL). The available literature on patterns of HSV-1 shedding into the oral cavity at the prodromal stage of disease, during recrudescences and also during asymptomatic periods, is reviewed, as are the potential sources of virus and the known trigger factors leading to viral reactivation. Attention is given to the methodologies in use for the detection of HSV-1 and the relevance to the risk of cross-infection in surgery. This review also discusses the increase in incidence of HSV-1 genital infections and the significance of salivary inhibitors of the herpes simplex type 1 virus.

Wald, A. (1998). "Herpes - Transmission and viral shedding." Dermatologic Clinics 16(4): 795-+.
Infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) occurs following intimate contact with infected secretions. HSV can be transmitted during oral to oral, genital to oral, and genital to genital contact. In most of the population, infection with HSV-1 is acquired during childhood, whereas infection with HSV-2 is acquired almost exclusively after initiation of sexual activity. After the discovery of antigenic differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2, the observation that HSV-1 causes infections above the waist and HSV-2 below the waist was made.(20) However, HSV-1 remains an important agent of genital herpes, especially among HSV seronegative persons for whom sexual activity may be the first exposure to a herpes simplex virus.(23,24,30).

Wald, A., M. Ericsson, et al. (2004). "Oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2." Sexually Transmitted Infections 80(4): 272-276.
Objectives: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and HSV-2 reactivate preferentially in the oral and genital area, respectively. We aimed to define frequency and characteristics associated with oral shedding of HSV-2. Methods: Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of patients with documented HSV-2 infection and at least one oral viral culture obtained were selected from the University of Washington Virology Research Clinic database. Results: Of 1388 people meeting the entry criteria, 44 (3.2%) had HSV-2 isolated at least once from their mouths. In comparison with the 1344 people who did not have HSV-2 isolated from their mouth, participants with oral HSV-2 were more likely to be male (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.7), HIV positive (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 6.0), and homosexual (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.2), and to have collected a larger number of oral specimens (median 32 v 4, p<0.001). Of the 58 days with oral HSV-2 isolation, 15 (25%) occurred during newly acquired HSV-2 infection, 12 (21%) during a recurrence with genital lesions, three (5%) during a recurrence with oral lesions, and three ( 5%) during a recurrence with oral and genital lesions; 25 (43%) occurred during asymptomatic shedding. Oral HSV-2 was found less frequently than oral HSV-1 (0.06% v 1%, p<0.001) in people with HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody, and less frequently than genital HSV-2 (0.09% v 7%, p<0.001). Conclusions: Oral reactivation of HSV-2 as defined by viral isolation is uncommon and usually occurs in the setting of first episode of genital HSV-2 or during genital recurrence of HSV-2.

Wald, A., J. Zeh, et al. (2002). "Genital shedding of herpes simplex virus among men." Journal of Infectious Diseases 186: S34-S39.
Epidemiologic studies suggest that most sexual transmission of genital herpes occurs when persons shed virus but lack lesions. This study assessed 79 men (63 with a history of genital herpes simplex virus [HSV] type 2 infection, 5 with a history of genital HSV-1 infection, and 11 with HSV-2 antibodies but no history of genital herpes) and obtained daily swabs for viral culture. HSV was isolated at least once from 60 (81%) HSV-2-seropositive men. The total viral shedding rate in HSV-2-seropositive men was 5%; the subclinical shedding rate was 2.2%. Of 11 HSV-2- seropositive men without a genital herpes history, 7 recognized typical recurrences and HSV was detected in 10. The shedding rate among men with genital HSV-2 was significantly higher than among men with genital HSV-1 infection (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-15.3). The frequency of viral shedding in men with genital herpes appears comparable with that in women.