Know About Herpes Virus
 

Herpes is recurring skin condition which is very common. The causing herpes virus is often referred to as HSV. HSV is the abbreviation used for the family of herpes viruses. There are many strains of herpes which comprise of this herpesvirus family, each strain is different from one another. For example the herpes group comprises of Epstein-Barr virus, which is known to cause mono, Varicella Zoster, which causes shingles and chicken pox.
 

There are two strains of herpes simplex, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) which cause herpes.

Herpes virus lives in the nerve roots for long periods of time. In the case of genital herpes it lives in the nervous system at the bottom of the spinal cord (nerve roots). When the virus becomes active it travels through the nerve pathways and causes sores on the skin.

Though the exact cause of herpes virus activation is not known but some of the triggers include:

• Emotional stress
• Caffeine and alcohol
• Smoking

The most common symptoms of herpes virus is appearance of cold sores or fever blisters.  As they occur in and around the mouth or face this condition is also referred as oral herpes. Appearance of lesions or blisters in and around the genital area irrespective of the male or female body is referred to as genital herpes. About 80 percent of adults have oral herpes and 25 percent of adults have genital herpes.

The cause of these symptoms is the Herpes virus (see the Slide above for the Herpes Virus Pictures under the microscope).

Approximately in a group of 10 people infected with herpes, 8 of them would be having herpes virus type 1  infection and 2 would be having herpes virus 2 infection. HSV 1 commonly causes coldsores or oral herpes and HSV 2 causes genital herpes. However this is not a hard and fast rule. Both virus types can cause alternate symptoms as well. Most people don’t know that they are infected with herpes because either the symptoms are too mild to be noticed or they never show up.

It is estimated that 80% of people who are infected with herpes viruses do not have outbreaks or symptoms. But as the symptoms of herpes virus are vivid, to confirm herpes infection one of most promising way includes, getting a swab test.

One of the very important characteristic of both these herpes virus types that distinguishes it with other viral infections is that once a person gets infected by them, the herpes virus will live in the infected persons body for the full life span. The virus may live in an inactive state or may become active periodically and thus cause recurrent herpes outbreaks. However this is not possible to tell as to when will a person have next outbreak and at what site of the body.

Learn how this case was treated

Herpes is usually spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during an active outbreak or during the few days just before an outbreak. Coming into physical contact with the blister fluid the virus easily gets transmitted. However, herpes virus can be spread even when there are no visible symptoms.

Transmission through non physical exposure such as using common toilet seats, towels, sex toys etc hasn't been established but there is a possibility.

Proper knowledge to avoid infection in the first place, avoiding triggering factors and appropriate medication, knowledge of how to control it makes herpes manageable.