An Overview Of Herpes

Herpes is, essentially, the name given to a viral
infection. The virus that causes the infection is called
Herpes Simplex Virus. Herpes Simplex Virus comes in
different forms, but its main variations are Herpes Simplex
Virus 1 (HSV 1) and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV 2). Beyond
the common cold, herpes is likely the most common viral
infection in existence.

The symptoms of an HSV 1 infection are typically referred
to as cold sores -- sometimes fever blisters, sometimes
oral blisters, and there are other descriptions as well.
When symptoms occur -- they don't always -- HSV 1 infection
results in an outbreak of blisters about the face, and
typically about the mouth. HSV 1 infection is exceptionally
common: up to ninety percent of people are infected with
HSV 1, though not everyone infected with HSV 1 present
symptoms.

The symptoms of an HSV 2 infection are typically referred
to as genital herpes. Roughly twenty percent of adults are
infected with HSV 2, but symptom recognition is very low:
only twenty percent of people, give or take, infected with
HSV 2 are aware of their status. When HSV 2 symptoms
appear, they usually appear in the area of the genitals.
HSV 2 infection is classified as an STD.

As a rule, HSV 1 and HSV 2 infection present in different
parts of the body. HSV 1 appears above the waist, and most
often above the neck. It is possible for HSV 1 to occur
below the waist: this is rare, but it does happen. HSV 2's
infection region is below the waist, and most usually
around the genitals. When HSV 1 or HSV 2 happens outside of
their respective infection regions, symptoms, should they
occur, are typically less severe and less frequent.

All HSV infections spread through direct skin-to-skin
contact, and when HSV symptoms appear they affect the skin,
usually through blistering. There's some belief that HSV
infection can be passed from secondary objects -- a public
utility, a towel, a glass, etc. -- but the evidence doesn't
support this. Direct skin-to-skin contact is the rule for
passing, or acquiring, an HSV infection.

A bit of an exception to HSV's skin-to-skin infection rule
is ocular herpes. Ocular herpes is a herpes infection of
the eye(s). Ocular herpes is typically spread from some
form mouth to eye transmission: going to the mouth, where
an HSV infection is found, and then going to the eye and
transferring the HSV infection there. Ocular herpes can be
a quite serious condition that may affect sight.

The official thinking on an HSV infection is that it is
permanent: the general consensus is that HSV resides
permanently in the body, cleverly hidden from the body's
defenses. This having been said, there are some HSV
treatments that claim to eliminate HSV from the body, or to
permanently end HSV symptomatic outbreaks.

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Zinn Jeremiah is an online writer. You can read more of
Zinn's articles at
http://www.hubonline.biz/website-content.htm . Learn more
about herpes by visiting
http://www.hubonline.biz/treatment-options.htm .