Herpes

When the word herpes is used, it's usually meant to reference a case of genital herpes. The herpes virus actually comes in several forms, but the most common herpes virus form by far is herpes simplex. The two variations of herpes simplex are, naturally enough, herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2.

Herpes simplex 1 is usually responsible for cases of oral herpes, though in rare instances herpes simplex 1 affects the genital region. Genital herpes is typically caused by herpes simplex 2, though herpes simplex 2 can also, rarely, cause oral herpes.

Herpes is an extremely typical virus, quite possibly the most common virus form beyond the virus that causes the common cold. It's believed that eighty to ninety percent of all adults are infected with herpes simplex 1. Herpes simplex 2 is significantly less frequent, but still fairly common with an infection rate of roughly twenty percent of all adults.

Not all cases of herpes are symptomatic. In herpes simplex 2 cases, up to ninety percent of infected persons aren't aware of their status because symptoms either are not present or are not unique enough to be recognized. When a herpes infection does present symptoms, the symptoms are typically an outbreak of blisters, or lesions.

Herpes is a transmittable condition, especially during a symptom outbreak. It was once believed that herpes transmission could only happen if a symptoms outbreak were occurring, but evidence now demonstrates that the herpes virus can be on the skin surface, and thus can be transmitted, even when no visible signs of an outbreak are present. The presence of herpes virus at the surface of the skin without symptoms being present is known as asymptomatic shedding.

When herpes is transmitted, the path to infection is skin-to-skin contact. Kissing, intercourse, and other forms of intimate physical contact are the standard methods for herpes transmission. Secondary objects, such as a toilet seat or some other public resource, are not means for passing a herpes infection. Herpes is transmitted when people have intimate physical contact, usually while an outbreak is ongoing.

Herpes infections can absolutely be a nuisance and can be physically uncomfortable as well, but a herpes infection is not considered a serious health threat. Herpes does not compromise one's overall health state. The only possible exceptions to this are herpes infections in infants -- typically infants become infected with herpes from a genital herpes infected mother -- and herpes infections in persons with seriously compromised immune systems.

A trait of any case of herpes is symptom consistency. When herpes symptoms do take place, they remain in the area of the body where infection initially occurred, and don't move about.

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Zinn Jeremiah writes about a number of different topics. Visit herpes or genital herpes to get more herpes information.

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