Regarding herpes infections, a person is contagious:

• A. ANYTIME
• B. Only during prodrome phase
• C. Only when vesicles appear
• D. Never

Answer: (A)

Herpes infections can be transmitted even when no symptoms are visible. The virus is shed from the skin and mucous membranes not only during outbreaks with vesicles, but also during times when there are no sores. This asymptomatic shedding means a person can be contagious at any time, though the risk is highest when lesions are present and vesicular fluid is erupting. The prodrome phase — tingling or itching before lesions appear — also corresponds to rising viral replication and contagiousness, but it does not limit transmission to that window alone. Therefore, saying contagiousness can occur anytime best captures the reality of HSV transmission.