The herpes virus family consists of several different kinds of viruses; however, the term herpes virus usually refers to the two most common strains of the herpes simplex viruses. These viruses are very contagious and, once contracted, cannot be cured and are never eliminated from the body.
Types
The two main forms of the herpes virus are herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2. Herpes simplex 1 typically infects the mouth region, whereas herpes simplex 2 most commonly causes infections of the genital area. However, both forms of the herpes virus have the ability to infect both the mouth and the genital region, so the distinction is not absolute.
Symptoms
Herpes infection typically causes the appearance of small fluid filled blisters. These blisters are often itchy or painful and typically impact the mucus membranes of the affected area. In the oral region, this includes the lips and inside of the mouth. When herpes affects the genitals, it can cause an infection on the penis, buttocks, vagina or cervix. Once the blisters appear, they will rupture, causing multiple small sores to form. Sometimes, before the blisters appear, the affected area will itch or tingle.
Phases
A herpes infection can be divided into two different phases. During the active phase, which often occurs soon after the initial infection, the patient will experience an outbreak of blisters. After the blisters rupture and the sores heal, the virus will go into a latent phase, in which it lies dormant in the nerve cells in the body. Although the virus is not causing any symptoms and cannot be spread at this time, it also cannot be cleared from the body by the immune system. This means that once someone has been infected with herpes simplex, he will always have the virus present in his body. Sometimes the virus will stay dormant for the rest of the patient’s life. A recurrence of herpes can occur, however. Many different things can trigger a recurrence, including stress, illness, fatigue, or suppression of the immune system. During a recurrence, the virus becomes active again in the body and can cause blisters.
Neonatal Herpes
Neonatal herpes is a particularly insidious form of the disease that can occur in newborns if their mother is experiencing an active outbreak of herpes during birth. The child can become infected due to virus-filled secretions in the birth canal. Because newborns have weak immune systems, the virus can quickly spread throughout their bodies, resulting in severe illness which can cause permanent brain damage.
Treatment
Although herpes cannot be cured, patients can take antiviral medications in order to treat recurrences from the herpes virus. Acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir can all minimize the severity and duration of a herpes viral outbreak. These medications work best if taken as soon as the patient begins to feel symptoms. Otherwise, patients should keep the sores clean and dry to allow them to heal more easily.
