Herpes

HSV is a common sexually transmitted virus found globally. The herpes virus that is associated with the genital region is known as type 2 or HSV-2. Type one or HSV-1 is the causative factor for facial infections such as cold sores and fever blisters. When a type 1 infection gets to the lips it is known as simplex labialis. Type one infections can pass to one another via kissing, sharing food utensils or sharing drinking cups and glasses. Type one also may cause genital lesions but it is usually type 2 that's at fault. Type two is transmitted via sexual contact. Check here for herpes pictures but you are warned that the pictures are graphic.

Infection categories

An outbreak of infection can be described as primary. It is a primary infection when the person contracting the infection would have tested negative for both type HSV-1 and HSV-2 before the episode of genital lesions. HSV-1 is not likely indicated as being primary or non-primary due to 90% of Americans adults having had a cold sore or fever blister at sometime in their life. Click here for herpes symptoms.

The infection is non-primary if someone with HSV-1 contracts HSV-2 as well. The non-primary infection is not as intense as a primary infection due to existing defenses to HSV present.

HSV can hide itself away becoming dormant. Suddenly, a reactivation of it can occur causing an outbreak once again. The risk of genital reactivation is lesser in those with HSV-1 versus HSV2. Without antiviral therapy, one can expect reactivation about four times in a year after their first HSV-2 infection. 40% of patients experience at least six reactivations and 20% will have greater than ten reactivation in their first year. In comparison, HSV-1 will recur about once per year. With time, reactivation of either type one or two generally will decrease in number of times and severity; however, there is significant difference in the clinical course from infected to infected. See here for the treatment options