Are there different intensities of the herpes virus?

by Mr D Logan

Are there different intensities of the herpes virus?

HSV-2. Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection affecting primarily the genitals of men and women. Genital herpes is characterized by recurrent clusters of vesicles and lesions at the genital areas or below the waist. A person usually gets HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission may occur even if there is no visible outbreak if the infected person is shedding. While generally not dangerous, it is a nuisance and can be emotionally traumatic, as there is no cure.

Cold sores or HSV-1, the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, can also cause genital herpes. HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. So having oral sex with a person who has a cold sore can cause genital herpes, having had contact with the cold sore. Keep in mind, even if a cold sore is not present, there might be asymptomatic shedding or transmission. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.

Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of eight). This may be due to male-to-female transmission being more likely than female-to-male transmission.

Genital herpes has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.; 500,000 are diagnosed each year. One in five American adults has herpes, but only one third of those inflicted are aware that they have the virus. Many people don't relate their symptoms to herpes, since they have either very mild or no symptoms at all. Over 50 million cases are currently estimated to exist in either the active or dormant stage.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!!There are eight members of the herpesvirus family: herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) (usually cold sores and oral herpes), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) (usually genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (chicken pox, herpes zoster), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (mononucleosis and others), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes virus-6 (roseola), human herpes virus-7, and human herpes virus-8 (Kaposi's sarcoma, Castleman's disease). Most humans around the world eventually become infected with one or more than one of these. They play a role in many diseases including several cancers. Because these viruses establish a latent state in humans, medicines only control symptoms of disease or prevent outbreaks, and cannot cure the infections. A vaccine is available for chickenpox and will soon be available for herpes simplex.

http://www.modern-psychiatry.com/herpes.htm

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