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Herpes

By Zinn Jeremiah

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 14Sep2007
Word count: 451
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The term herpes is typically used as a shorthand reference for a genital herpes infection. There are actually various forms of the herpes virus, but the most common herpes virus form easily is herpes simplex. Herpes simplex comes in two strains: 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. Herpes simplex 2 is usually responsible for cases of genital herpes, though herpes simplex 2 can, in rare instances, cause an oral herpes infection.

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.

A herpes infection does not always present symptoms. 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 phenomenon of herpes virus on the skin surface in the absence of a visible outbreak 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 characteristic of all herpes infections is the consistent appearance of symptoms. Symptoms of herpes, when they appear, remain in the region where infection took place and do not move about the body.

Zinn Jeremiah is an online author. Visit herpes or genital herpes to get more information about herpes.

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