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Herpes
Also known as: Genital Herpes, Oral Herpes, Cold Sores Formal name: Herpes Simplex Virus, Type1 and Type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) Related tests: TORCH
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Common Questions
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1. How is herpes transmitted?
2. What are the symptoms of herpes?
3. How is it treated?
4. How can herpes be prevented?
1. How is herpes transmitted?
HSVs are transmitted through direct contact, which can include kissing; vaginal, oral, or anal sex; or other skin-to-skin contact. Genital herpes is most easily contracted by having sex with someone who has a vesicle, but it can be transmitted even if there are no sores or other symptoms. People often catch it by having sex with someone who doesn’t know s/he is infected.
2. What are the symptoms of herpes?
Many people who have herpes don’t know it because they never have symptoms or don’t recognize the symptoms they do have. When you are first infected, you may have obvious and painful lesions at the site of infection. These lesions appear within two weeks after the virus is transmitted and usually heal within two to four weeks. The vesicles can appear in the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anus, or on the buttocks or thighs. This primary episode can include a second outbreak of lesions and even flu-like symptoms of fever and swollen glands. However, you may not have any lesions or have symptoms that are so mild that you don’t notice them or mistake them for something else, such as insect bites or a rash.
After the primary episode, the virus goes into an inactive (latent) state within your body. It may cause outbreaks from time to time. The outbreaks, which last about a week, can be blisters or open sores that crust over and then disappear. Sometimes, the virus can become active and infectious with no noticeable sores. The virus never goes away, and the frequency and severity of these recurrent episodes vary greatly among individuals.
3. How is it treated?
There is no cure for herpes. Antiviral medications suppress outbreaks and shorten the duration of active shedding of virus and of symptoms.
4. How can herpes be prevented?
Oral herpes (mouth sores, skin lesions in non-genital sites) can’t be prevented. Exposure occurs during everyday life. However, genital herpes can be prevented by avoiding sexual contact with someone who has an active herpes infection and through the use of condoms. For more information, visit the National Herpes Resource Center.
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This article was last reviewed on
August 30, 2006.
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