Born with Herpes??????????!
Question:
Born with Herpes??????????
Ok. I have a friend who swears that you can be born with Genital Herpes. (Not counting mother to child during childbirth). He means genetics. I don't believe this!! Who is right?
Answers:
Your friend is wrong. Herpes is not inherited like curly hair or green eyes. Herpes affects the skin, not the DNA of a person.
The reason herpes can be transmitted at birth is because of the DIRECT skin to skin contact with the mother. If a mother has genital herpes and is having an outbreak during delivery the baby can contract the virus as it is coming through the birth canal. The baby can rub up against the sores as it is coming through the birth canal and vagina and contract the virus. Being born with herpes is VERY rare though. I've read about 1% of babies born to mothers that have the virus, actually end up contracting the virus at birth.
Herpes is spread by DIRECT skin to skin contact. It's not genetic.