A WOMAN’S fun time out turned into a night she’d come to regret forever after she claims a microphone at a karaoke bar gave her herpes.
The unnamed woman from Zhejiang, China, revealed on Douyin – China’s version of TikTok – that she visited a karaoke lounge in 2017 and contracted the herpes virus after getting too close to the mic.
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According to her post, she noticed blisters forming around her lips following the night out.
She said the blisters were “extremely swollen, painful, and itchy”, but didn’t think too much of them as they subsided after she took medication.
However, the blisters resurfaced again, and it was only then she found out she had herpes.
She’s certain she contracted herpes from the microphone and decide to share her experience to warn others.
“[I have to] carry this virus for life. There is no medication available to treat it. There is only medication to relieve the pain but the symptoms are recurring,” she said.
She added the blisters have resurfaced repeatedly around her mouth and nose for the past eight years – and started appearing on her cheek this year.
The woman didn’t reveal what type of herpes she caught.
But there are two main types – HSV-1 is the kind that causes cold sores, while HSV-2 typically causes genital symptoms.
There is no cure for either virus and they remain in the body for life.
Dr Crystal Wyllie at Asda Online Doctor has never encountered a case of herpes transmission in this way before, and says catching herpes from a karaoke microphone is an extremely unlikely situation given it is usually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.
She explained: “For someone to catch oral herpes from a microphone, someone with an active cold sore would have to speak or sing very closely to the microphone – leaving saliva or virus on the surface – and someone would then have to press the same contaminated area of the mic firmly against their lips.
“This also assumes the virus has survived outside of the body (on the microphone which is extremely uncommon for HSV – the virus responsible for cold sores).”
While the risk of catching herpes from a microphone is extremely unlikely, Dr Wyllie said if there is concern that someone with an active cold sore has used the microphone previously, you could avoid using it or wipe the microphone before use.
She added: “The most common way to catch oral herpes is direct skin-to-skin contact with someone with an active cold sore (or during their shedding phase which usually comes one to two days before before blisters show).”
According to recent figures, it’s estimated that around 70 per cent of the UK population carries the herpes simplex virus.
This means that a significant portion of the British population is affected by this infection.
HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes, or cold sores, while HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes.
However, both types can infect either the mouth or genitals.
The most common symptom of HSV-1 is a cold sore, a painful blister that appears on the lips, around the mouth, or inside the mouth.
Other symptoms can include tingling, itching, or burning sensations before the blisters appear, as well as fever, headache, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
HSV-2 can manifest with a range of symptoms, from no noticeable symptoms to recurring outbreaks of painful blisters and sores.
Initial outbreaks often involve flu-like symptoms, while recurring outbreaks tend to be less severe and shorter.
The best way to avoid HSV-1 is to avoid close contact with people who have active outbreaks, especially kissing or oral sex, and to practice good hygiene.
This includes avoiding sharing items like utensils, cups, and towels, and washing hands frequently, especially after touching a cold sore.
The most effective way to avoid HSV-2 is to practice safer sex, including consistently using condoms during all sexual activity, and avoiding sexual contact when symptoms like sores or outbreaks are present.
Reducing the number of sexual partners and getting tested for STIs also helps.
Can herpes be treated?
WHILE there is no cure for herpes, treatment can help manage symptoms.
Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help reduce the duration and severity of outbreaks.
Other treatments may include pain relief medications and topical creams to soothe the sores.
The NHS also recommends things you can do at home to manage cold sores and genital herpes.
Cold sores
- avoid anything that triggers your cold sores, such as sunbeds
- use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you’re outside in the sun
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) – do not give aspirin to children under 16
- drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
Genital herpes
- keep the area clean using plain or salt water to prevent blisters becoming infected
- apply an ice pack wrapped in a flannel to soothe pain
- apply petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) or painkilling cream (such as 5 per cent lidocaine) to reduce pain when you pee
- wash your hands before and after applying cream or jelly
- pee while pouring water over your genitals to ease the pain
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