Herpes simplex is the name for a family of viruses.
Since they posses distinct genetic material, they have been labeled herpes virus one, HSV1 and herpes virus two, HSV2.
About 80% of the adult population of the USA is infected with HSV1.
They usually acquired it as children through droplet spread like flu and cold viruses.
30% of the USA adult population is estimated to be infected with HSV2.
The HSV2 infection is sexually acquired and may be an oral or a genital infection.
It is much more common genitally.
The virus causes blisters and ulcerations that are prolonged and painful when first acquired.
The virus lives in a swelling of the spinal nerves called a ganglia.
If it is acquired orally, it lives in the trigeminal ganglia, if genital infection occurs then it lives in the sacral ganglia.
Infection confers a form of immunity for most people so that it requires a precipitating event like a physical or emotional stress to reactivate the infection either orally or genitally.
Some people, however, have regular outbreaks that must be controlled with medication either with each episode or by daily suppression.
The infected person may remain largely asymptomatic throughout their life but may be contagious to non-infected individuals through what is called asymptomatic viral shedding.
This means the person has no symptoms, feels fine but at times, that can not be known or detected, may be contagious and able to give another person the virus.
Some infectious disease authorities now recommend that all sexually active infected individuals take a medication daily to prevent the transmission of the virus to their sexual partners.
Since they posses distinct genetic material, they have been labeled herpes virus one, HSV1 and herpes virus two, HSV2.
About 80% of the adult population of the USA is infected with HSV1.
They usually acquired it as children through droplet spread like flu and cold viruses.
30% of the USA adult population is estimated to be infected with HSV2.
The HSV2 infection is sexually acquired and may be an oral or a genital infection.
It is much more common genitally.
The virus causes blisters and ulcerations that are prolonged and painful when first acquired.
The virus lives in a swelling of the spinal nerves called a ganglia.
If it is acquired orally, it lives in the trigeminal ganglia, if genital infection occurs then it lives in the sacral ganglia.
Infection confers a form of immunity for most people so that it requires a precipitating event like a physical or emotional stress to reactivate the infection either orally or genitally.
Some people, however, have regular outbreaks that must be controlled with medication either with each episode or by daily suppression.
The infected person may remain largely asymptomatic throughout their life but may be contagious to non-infected individuals through what is called asymptomatic viral shedding.
This means the person has no symptoms, feels fine but at times, that can not be known or detected, may be contagious and able to give another person the virus.
Some infectious disease authorities now recommend that all sexually active infected individuals take a medication daily to prevent the transmission of the virus to their sexual partners.
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