what is this disease "herpes simplex" and what really causes it?

by Pulmonary Pathology

what is this disease "herpes simplex" and what really causes it?

There are two types. Both are viral. One causes sores in the mouth, but it is harmless. Almost everyone has it and the sores usually happen when you are sick. The other is an STD that you can NEVER get rid of. It's called the friend that keeps on giving for life.Your friend has cold sores. They aren't sexually transmitted, so don't panic about that. Although, I've just checked wikipedia (because I get cold sores), and it says that sores inside the mouth are called canker sores (mouth ulcer) and aren't the herpes simplex virus. It says that mouth ulcers are mostly caused by not enough vitamins and trauma to the mouth caused by abrasive brushing or toothpicks. I suggest you read the article.(m)

The Herpes simplex virus infection (common names: herpes, cold sores) is a common, contagious, incurable, and in some cases sexually transmitted disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus. The infection can also affect the brain, in which case the consequent disease is called herpes simplex encephalitis.


Herpes is a contagious infection that's caused by the herpes simplex virus. One type of the virus - herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) - can lead to cold sores around the mouth. An infection of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) can lead to genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease that causes blisters and pain in the genital area.

Both types of the virus can be transmitted through direct contact. A person can get the cold sores of HSV1 by kissing or sharing eating utensils with an infected person. A person can get genital herpes or HSV2 by having intimate contact with an infected person. A mother who has genital herpes can pass the infection on to her newborn if she delivers the baby vaginally.

In many cases, herpes doesn't cause any symptoms, so it's possible for a person to carry it and unknowingly pass it on to someone else. In other cases, herpes infections can lead to infections in other parts of the body.

Sometimes people who have oral or genital herpes only have one outbreak. But other people have many outbreaks, which are less painful and shorter than the initial episode.

There's no cure for herpes. In fact, once a person has been infected with the herpes virus, it's in the body forever. There are medications that can alleviate some of the discomfort that outbreaks cause. And there are things you can do to help protect yourself - and your family -from getting infected by the virus.

Types of Herpes Infections
Cold sores around the mouth are usually caused by HSV1. This form of the virus is usually transmitted from person to person by saliva or direct contact, like kissing or sharing eating utensils.

In this form of herpes, blisters form on the lips and on the inside of the mouth, and soon develop into painful ulcers. The gums become red and swollen, and the tongue may develop a white coating. Other symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, eating difficulties, a generally ill feeling, irritability, and swollen neck glands. These symptoms can last from 3 to 2 weeks.

After the first herpes infection, the virus can lie dormant without causing any symptoms for some time. But the virus can reactivate at a later time, leading to a tingling and numbness around the mouth, then a blister that breaks and forms a crust. The virus tends to reactivate following some type of stress on the body, like a cold, an infection, hormone changes, menstrual periods, or even a tooth extraction.

Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV2. This form of the virus occurs mainly in sexually active teens and adults and is transmitted through intimate contact.

Symptoms typically begin with pain, tenderness, or itching in the genital area and also include fever and headache.

In males, blisters appear on the penis. In females, blisters appear on the area around the vagina and in the cervix. In both genders, the blisters may appear on the thighs and buttocks. Blisters soon erupt to form painful sores that last 1 to 3 weeks.

Other symptoms may include: pain or a burning sensation during urination; a clear mucus-like discharge from the vagina or urethra (opening for urine) in females; a clear mucus-like discharge from the tip of the penis in males; and tender, swollen glands in the groin area.

As with HSV1, after an initial outbreak of genital herpes blisters, HSV2 also remains dormant in nearby nerves and can be reactivated later in life. The symptoms of reactivated genital herpes are similar to those of first outbreak, but they're generally less severe.

---

Orignal From: what is this disease "herpes simplex" and what really causes it?