It's not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease. Lot's of children catch HSV1 from their caregivers when they are infants. The vast majority are asymptomatic ie never display any symptoms and are therefore unaware that they are infected.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is primarily transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. According to reliable sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here's how it spreads:Main ways HSV-1 is transmitted
Oral-to-oral contact — Most commonly through kissing or close contact with
someone who has the virus, especially when they have active cold sores (oral herpes), but also possible when no symptoms are visible.
Contact with saliva — Sharing items like utensils, drinks, or lip products can transmit it in some cases, though direct contact is the primary route. It's often acquired in childhood through non-sexual close contact (e.g., a family member kissing a child).
Oral-to-genital contact — HSV-1 can cause genital herpes when passed from a person's mouth to a partner's genitals through oral sex. This has become a more common cause of new genital herpes cases in recent years.
HSV-1 enters the body through mucous membranes (e.g., in the mouth, eyes, or genitals) or small breaks in the skin.
