Question
Yesterday, while my child was undergoing an anesthesia rectal operation at a children’s hospital, I noticed that after the doctor had given a muscle injection to a middle-aged man with genital herpes, he did not wash his hands before touching the anesthetic tube and the child’s anal area. I am worried that under this situation, my child may contract genital herpes, and whether there is a risk of transmission if parents touch the child’s buttocks without washing their hands. I am also concerned that myself and other family members may also be infected this way.
Answer
Based on your description, although the doctor at the children’s hospital did not wash his hands after giving a muscle injection to a patient with genital herpes during the child’s anesthesia rectal operation, he did not directly touch the patient’s genitals. Therefore, the possibility of infection is unlikely, and you do not need to be overly concerned. However, the doctor’s hand hygiene needs to be improved. In addition, you are worried that you and other family members may also be infected with genital herpes as a result, but according to your description, the risk of infection is not high. It is suggested that you do not need to be overly worried, but you should still pay attention to personal hygiene and wash your hands after touching the child to prevent the occurrence of other infectious diseases.