How Many Types Of Herpes Viruses Are There

How Do People Get Genital Herpes

Infections are transmitted through contact with HSV in herpes lesions, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. 5 HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. 7,8 Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, receiving oral sex from a person with an oral HSV-1 infection can result in getting a genital HSV-1 infection. 4 Transmission commonly occurs from contact with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may not know that he or she is infected. 7 In persons with asymptomatic HSV-2 infections, genital HSV shedding occurs on 10.2% of days, compared to 20.1% of days among those with symptomatic infections. 8

Immune System Management By Herpesviruses

Herpesviruses evade immune destruction using a number of strategies. These include infection of tissues with limited accessibility to immune mediators particularly for -herpesviruses, establishment of latency that allows minimal immune recognition and numerous active immunomodulatory procedures intrinsic to herpesviruses. Many excellent reviews have discussed immune evasive or immune managemental properties of different herpesviruses . Table 1 summarizes many such properties. We briefly discuss how herpesviruses can manage the immune system to ensure their persistence.

Table 1. Immune management strategies used by herpesviruses.

How Herpes Is Treated

There is no cure for herpes.

• The health care provider may prescribe antiviral medicine to help speed up the healing process. It also shortens the time when the virus can spread from the herpes sores.
• Pain may be treated with medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin or by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area.
• If sores are in the mouth, avoid foods high in acid, like citrus fruits and juices.
• The infected area should be kept clean and dry.
• Wash hands often and avoid touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus.
• It is important to stay healthy by getting enough rest, having proper nutrition and exercise and managing stress well.

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What Should You Do If You Have Herpes

Herpes is contagious at all stages. It is most contagious when blisters burst and release their fluid.

If you have herpes, you should take precautions to avoid its spread to other parts of your body and to other people. Here is what you should do.

• Use protection such as condoms and dental dams during sex .

During an outbreak:

• refrain from sexual activity
• Avoid touching the infected region
• Avoid deep kissing
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, soaps and cosmetics with others.
• Wash your hands with mild soap or clean them with alcohol-based sanitizer before touching yourself or others.
• Starting antiviral medications at the onset of an outbreak can reduce the intensity of symptoms by about 70 percent

You can resume sexual activity once the outbreak resolves.

Remember, genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease . Sores may be painful or may cause you discomfort. However, the disease is not deadly and rarely causes serious complications. Therefore, do not panic if you are diagnosed with it. There is no cure for herpes but certain over the counter and prescription medications from a doctor can help reduce the severity of symptoms and cause the sores to heal faster. Practice safer sex to the reduce risk of contracting herpes.

For any additional concerns about herpes, do not hesitate to ask your doctor.

Harmony Changes To Cacophony When Herpesviruses Infect A Non

During the course of evolution, most herpesviruses have adapted to a single or a limited number of host species. Nevertheless, when for a variety of reasons they happen to infect non-native species, aberrant and severe disease can result. A common example is HSV in mice, a popular model to study HSV pathogenesis. In mice, HSV does not behave as it does in its natural human host. Many strains are highly virulent in mice and cause lethal encephalitis particularly when higher doses are used for infection. Encephalitis is a very rare outcome in healthy humans and not influenced by viral strain type. When some herpesviruses infect a non-native species, encephalitis can result. For example humans accidentally infected with herpes B virus, an -herpesvirus of monkeys, can suffer from lethal encephalitis . Similarly pseudorabies virus of pigs causes encephalitis in cows . Another example include a -herpesvirus, elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus , which normally infects African elephants but is usually innocuous in the adult animals . When the virus happens to infect young animals or Asian elephants, the disease is invariably severe . Why encephalitis occurs so commonly in non-native species as compared to the native species is not known. The virus may be arrested in ganglionic neurons in latent form and fail to spread anterograde to the CNS. This retention may not happen in a non-native host for reasons still not clear.

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Is There Any Resistance To Genital Herpes Medication

Resistance to drugs that treat genital herpes even after 20 years of use is very rare. Herpes medications may not work as well in patients who are very immunosuppressed and have been treated with these drugs for a long time. Each individuals response to treatment may vary. In some cases, patients may need more drugs to suppress their viral outbreaks than others.

Can Genital Herpes Be Treated

Your physician can prescribe different medications to help reduce your symptoms and speed up the healing of an outbreak. These medicines work best when you start them soon after an outbreak occurs.

To reduce pain during an outbreak:

• Sit in warm water in a portable bath or bathtub for about 20 minutes. Avoid bubble baths.
• Keep your genital area clean and dry, and avoid tight clothes.
• Take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin.

Let your physician know if you are worried about your genital herpes. He or she can recommend a support group to help you cope with the virus.

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What Does Herpes Look Like

• Summary

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Herpes sores can affect many areas of the body, including the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Knowing what herpes looks like across the body can help people diagnose the condition.

Herpes is a skin condition caused by the herpes simplex virus. The symptoms include sores that come and go over time. Different types of herpes affect different body parts.

This article will explain what herpes is, how people get it, and what herpes looks like with pictures.

Most people with HSV are asymptomatic, meaning they will not experience any symptoms. Others will notice sores or lesions. These sores look like blisters filled with fluid. Over a few days, the sores break open, ooze, and form a crust before healing.

People may also notice a tingling, itching, or burning feeling a few days before the sores appear. Some people may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as:

• muscle aches

Someone who has contracted the virus will usually have their first sores, or an outbreak, between 2 and 20 days later. The sores may last up to a week or 10 days.

An outbreak may involve a single sore or a cluster of sores. They often affect the skin around the mouth, the genitals, or the rectum. The blisters can take between 2 and 4 weeks to heal.

The symptoms will usually reappear from time to time, though they do not tend to be as severe as the first time.

Genital Herpes And Pregnancy

It is important to avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. A first episode during pregnancy can create a greater risk of transmission to a newborn.

Fortunately, it is rare for women with genital herpes to infect their babies. If you know that you have genital herpes before becoming pregnant, your physician will monitor your condition throughout your pregnancy. If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, a C-section may be recommended. Depending on individual diagnosis, though, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorses suppressive therapy to reduce the frequency of C-section.

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How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed

HSV nucleic acid amplification tests are the most sensitive and highly specific tests available for diagnosing herpes. However, in some settings viral culture is the only test available. The sensitivity of viral culture can be low, especially among people who have recurrent or healing lesions. Because viral shedding is intermittent, it is possible for someone to have a genital herpes infection even though it was not detected by NAAT or culture. 11

Type-specific virologic tests can be used for diagnosing genital herpes when a person has recurrent symptoms or lesion without a confirmatory NAAT, culture result, or has a partner with genital herpes. Both virologic tests and type-specific serologic tests should be available in clinical settings serving patients with, or at risk for, sexually transmitted infections. 11

Given performance limitations with commercially available type-specific serologic tests , a confirmatory test with a second method should be performed before test interpretation. If confirmatory tests are unavailable, patients should be counseled about the limitations of available testing before serologic testing. Healthcare providers should also be aware that false-positive results occur. In instances of suspected recent acquisition, serologic testing within 12 weeks after acquisition may be associated with false negative test results. 11

Providers are strongly encouraged to look at CDCs STI Treatment Guidelines for further diagnostic considerations.

Are These The Only Herpes Viruses

There are actually several other subtypes of herpes viruses that are from the same family as HSV-1 and HSV-2. This family is known as Herpesviridae.

Alternatively, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are also known as human herpesvirus 1 and human herpesvirus 2 , respectively.

The other human herpesviruses include:

• Human herpesvirus 3 : Also known as the varicella zoster virus, this virus causes chickenpox lesions.
• Human herpesvirus 4 : Also known as the Epstein-Barr virus, this virus causes infectious mononucleosis.
• Human herpesvirus 5 : Also known as the cytomegalovirus, this virus causes symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches.
• Human herpesvirus 6 : This virus can cause a serious illness in infants known as sixth disease, which is also called roseola infantum. The virus causes a high fever and distinctive rash.
• Human herpesvirus 7 : This virus is similar to HHV-6 and can cause some cases of roseola.
• Human herpesvirus 8 : This virus can contribute to a serious illness known as Kaposi sarcoma, which can lead to connective tissue cancer.

Many of these subtypes are contracted in childhood.

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Herpes Simplex Treatment And Management

Herpes simplex infections can’t be cured, but treatments are available to reduce the number and length of outbreaks. The risk of transmitting the infection to others is also reduced.

Daily antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, may be prescribed. During an outbreak, self-care strategies can also help manage pain and discomfort.

For an oral herpes outbreak featuring cold sores or blisters around the mouth, do the following:

• Clean the affected area and pat dry
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers or ointments with ingredients such as benzocaine or lidocaine
• Apply OTC antiviral cold sore medication to the lesions to help them heal quicker
• Use petroleum jelly to keep skin from drying out or cracking
• Avoid acidic, spicy, or salty foods that may irritate your lesions

Self-care for a genital herpes outbreak may include:

• Use OTC pain relievers or cool compresses to help manage pain
• Wash affected area with mild soap and gently dry
• Wear loose fitting, cotton underwear

Whats The Difference Between Oral And Genital Herpes

Its an oversimplification to say that HSV-1 causes oral herpes and HSV-2 causes genital herpes, though these are the easiest definitions of each.

HSV-1 is a subtype of the herpes virus that typically causes oral herpes. This is also known as cold sores.

HSV-1 can also cause genital blisters that appear very similar to the genital blisters associated with HSV-2 virus.

Any herpes sore or blister regardless of its subtype can burn, itch, or tingle.

The HSV-2 subtype of the herpes virus causes genital sores, as well as swollen lymph nodes, body aches, and fever.

Although HSV-2 can also cause sores on the face, its much less common than genital sores.

Its difficult to look at a herpes sore and determine whether it was caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2.

To make a diagnosis, a doctor or other healthcare provider would have to take a sample of fluid from a blister lesion or take a small sample of the skin lesion and send it to a lab for testing.

Theres also a blood test available.

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Is Herpes Simplex Related To Herpes Zoster

Herpes simplex and the varicella-zoster virus are related, but they arent the same. VZV causes chickenpox and shingles.

Like HSV-1 and HSV-2, shingles can cause a painful, blistering rash. The shingles rash usually shows up on the back, side, abdomen , neck and face. It is often only on half of your body, following the pattern of your nerves. See your healthcare provider if you have a new rash and suspect you may have shingles.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Herpes simplex is a virus. Once you have herpes, its a lifelong condition. A herpes infection can lead to outbreaks , but youll also have times when you have no symptoms. The main sign of herpes is sores that appear on the infected skin. Some people choose not to treat herpes, especially if symptoms are mild. Others take antiviral medications to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/17/2022.

References

What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes

Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for another skin condition. 9 When symptoms do occur, herpes lesions typically appear as one or more vesicles, or small blisters, on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 4 days after exposure. 10 The vesicles break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal after the initial herpes infection. 5,10 Experiencing these symptoms is referred to as having a first herpes outbreak or episode.

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Myth #: Herpes Is Not Harmful

Fact: Most of the time, herpes is mild. However, it can cause serious complications in some cases.

For example, having HSV-2 can make a person three times more likely to contract HIV.

Also, if an infant has exposure to herpes during delivery, they are at risk of neonatal herpes. This can cause brain damage or death. Research suggests that neonatal herpes affects

Both types of herpes are most contagious when a person has symptoms. However, herpes can still spread when no symptoms are present.

Genital herpes spreads through sexual contact. The likelihood of a person spreading it will depend on:

• how often they have sex with another person
• if and how often they use barrier method contraception
• how long they have had herpes

Using barrier method contraception reduces the risk of spreading herpes to a sexual partner, but it cannot prevent it completely. Dental dams can reduce the risk of spread during oral sex, as herpes can pass between a persons mouth and their partners genitals.

Research shows that older herpes infections are less contagious than newer ones. In other words, if a person has had the virus for many years, they may be less likely to spread it than someone who has recently contracted it.

People can also get oral herpes through nonsexual contact with a person who has the virus. This contact may include kissing or sharing utensils or drinks.

So Cold Sores Are Only Caused By Hsv

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause cold sores on the mouth and face.

Although its more common for HSV-1 to cause cold sores, it isnt impossible for HSV-2 to cause them, too.

Cold sores arent the same thing as canker sores or mouth ulcers. They each have different causes and two entirely different presentations.

Cold sores:

• are caused by the herpes simplex virus
• usually develop near the outside of the mouth, such as below your nostrils or on your lips
• cause redness and fluid-filled blisters
• usually appear in groups
• eventually break and ooze, forming a crust-like scab
• may take 2 to 4 weeks to completely heal

Canker sores:

• may be caused by food or chemical sensitivities, dietary deficiencies, minor injury, or stress
• may develop anywhere inside your mouth, such as at the base of your gum line, inside your lip, or under your tongue
• are shaped like a circle or oval
• are typically yellow or white with a red border
• may appear solo or in groups
• usually take 1 to 2 weeks to completely heal

HSV-1 is spread through direct contact with the virus, which can be present in or around cold sores, in oral secretions , and in genital secretions .

Some of the ways it can be transmitted include:

• kissing someone on the mouth
• sharing eating utensils or cups
• sharing lip balm
• performing oral sex

The herpes virus usually affects the area where it first made contact with the body.

Some of the ways HSV-2 can be transmitted include:

• oral sex

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