<p>i wouldn't. here's the situation. my mom needs help at her restaurant this friday, and i agreed to on Saturday. but on Monday, I contracted my first cold sores. I didn't realize what it was till last night, and bought abreva for it. But I read that it lasts 1-2 weeks, and it's really disgusting right now... big and filled with yellow pus sitting on the corner of my upper lip. it's very contagious also. think they could do better short handed than with a disgusting hand? or, i could wear a face mask.. but that would seem weird. i could be very very clean, which i am... but i don't want to gross anyone out and scare people away right before they eat!</p>
<p>Dry it up and put some concealer on it. It will probably just look like a big zit (sorry lol) and no one should think twice.</p>
<p>Best best, ask your mom's opinion. She's the one who can see it in person, so she'd have a better idea than any of us on how gross it is. And it's her restaurant.</p>
<p>You could always put a bandaid over it...I mean, yeah, people would be wondering why you had a bandaid on your face, but the way I see it, what matters is that restaurant workers have clean hands, aren't coughing in the food, etc...so as long as you're not picking at the cold sore or anything like that (and from your post, you don't seem at all like you would), I'd say go ahead and serve, though you might want to try a concealer, like some people suggested, or, as last resort, a band aid.</p>
<p>Something like over 70% of the US population has some form of herpes...so technically, it'd be going against the norm not to serve food with a cold sore ;)</p>
<p>I'd feel uncomfortable knowing that someone serving my food had a contagious cold sore..but i agree with Upsilamba, you could always put a bandaid on it :)</p>
<p>Mehh, I'm gonna go against the grain and say no. Honestly I have a cold sore right now (and mind you it's not even big) but I literally skipped like 2 classes this week so people wouldn't have to look at me. Maybe I'm just cold sore-a-phobic, but if someone with one tried to give me food, I might actually run away......or just not eat any of the food.....</p>
<p>it's actually right on my lips, so i can't conceal it, or it'll look funky... and i don't really want to put a bandaid on my lips.. sugar_sweet, i was thinking the same. i'm a big germaphobic so i wouldn't want it either. i still have to show my mom first.</p>
<p>No. Won't eat the food. Please do the customers a favors and don't work until you're no longer contagious!</p>
<p>PEOPLE! </p>
<p>How about you guys read up on the way in which the transmission of herpes virus takes place.</p>
<p>It REQUIRES direct skin to skin contact from an infected person to a non-infected person.</p>
<p>Further, most of you have been exposed - probably multiple times - to the virus. While only 15% of the population has Herpes Simplex Virus 1 or HSV 2, more than 70% of the population has "seroconverted" or developed antibodies towards the virus...meaning you won't get sick. So unless you're in that remaining 15% of of people who don't have HSV1 or HSV 2 AND haven't been exposed to develop an immune response, you're fine.</p>
<p>If you are in that remaining 15%...then you're likely going to be okay unless 4321234 is going to give you a big kiss while presenting you with your meal.</p>
<p>thanks everyone. i showed my mom, she was disgusted, and said i didn't have to work. </p>
<p>it sounds like i'm in the 15%. i'm not sure i got it in the first place. i just think my immune system is weak.</p>
<p>HELL NO.
BigredMed don't feed people false information.</p>
<p>I get a coldsore once every 2 months or so, and I can assure you that it does not come from skin to skin contact. Unfortunately, I am an expert in this field. If you served food and you had a coldsore, I'd freakin throw that right back in your face.</p>
<p>King-You most likely already have the virus, and it just appears because of stress, poor nutrition, or a whole bunch of other factors. Bigredmed was right in the fact that it transfers by skin-to-skin contact. That's why you're not supposed to touch the cold sore with your fingers because you could just transfer it to another part of your body....like your eye.</p>
<p>
[quote]
HELL NO.
BigredMed don't feed people false information.</p>
<p>I get a coldsore once every 2 months or so, and I can assure you that it does not come from skin to skin contact. Unfortunately, I am an expert in this field. If you served food and you had a coldsore, I'd freakin throw that right back in your face.
[/quote]
lol, trust me, BRM knows what he's talking about here.</p>
<p>Sugar_sweet is also right, the body does not usually clear the virus, so it tends to recur every so often.</p>
<p>
[quote]
HELL NO.
BigredMed don't feed people false information.</p>
<p>I get a coldsore once every 2 months or so, and I can assure you that it does not come from skin to skin contact. Unfortunately, I am an expert in this field. If you served food and you had a coldsore, I'd freakin throw that right back in your face.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As my infectious disease professor was fond of saying "Love is for a day, Herpes is forever".</p>
<p>Sugar_sweet is absolutely correct.</p>
<p>To be honest, I might be a little grossed out (are you sure it's a cold sore and not a canker sore?) but I wouldn't want anything from your mouth touching my food <em>anyway</em>.</p>
<p>I used to work as both cook and waiter in restaurants, and I assure you that there is not much that is more disgusting than cold sores. And I am not sure it is considered "safe" from the department of health's position. </p>
<p>I would avoid working as I <em>could</em> cause your mother some difficulties.</p>
<p>I dont think anybody really would "want" to have someone with a cold sore to serve them food. I think the question is would you tolerate it? Being the passive person I am I'd probably just let them serve me and not eat it lol.</p>