Herpes type 1 usually causes cold sores, while type 2 causes genital herpes, but both can cause infections in other areas. Herpes cannot be cured and is characterized by asymptomatic periods and outbreaks of sores. Transmission occurs through contact and type 1 is easily transmitted.
Herpes type 1 is the strain of the herpes simplex virus that is usually responsible for developing cold sores. In contrast, herpes type 2 is the type that usually causes genital herpes symptoms. This isn’t always the case, however, and herpes type 1 can sometimes cause genital herpes sores, depending on the method of transmission. Herpes type 1 can also cause infections in areas other than the mouth or genitals, but this is extremely rare.
Herpes is characterized by several things. First, herpes infection cannot be cured. When a person becomes infected with the herpes virus, it is there to stay, because after the infection period the virus infects the nervous system and enters a dormant period. This means that the virus continues to replicate in small numbers without causing symptoms. When the virus is latent, it is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.
Another feature of herpes types 1 and 2 is that most people have asymptomatic infection punctuated by periods where symptoms develop. Symptoms include the development of sores in the oral or genital area, with the onset of sores usually preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in the affected area. The virus is contagious once symptoms begin to appear.
Most oral cases of herpes, known to most people as cold sores or fever blisters, are caused by the herpes virus. In the United States, just under 58 percent of people are infected with the oral herpes virus, yet only about a third ever experience symptoms. Type 2 rarely causes an oral herpes infection, and people who get an initial instance of such an infection rarely have a recurring episode.
While herpes type 1 most often causes the development of oral symptoms and occasionally genital symptoms, infectious outbreaks can occur in other parts of the body. The herpes virus can cause an eye infection, which is potentially serious and can lead to blindness. Even more rarely, the infection can spread to the brain, causing encephalitis.
Transmission of herpes usually occurs through mouth-to-mouth, mouth-to-genital or genital-to-genital contact. In most cases, this contact occurs when the person with herpes doesn’t know they have the virus, or when they know it but don’t know they are in an infectious stage. Another important point is that herpes type 1 is the most easily transmitted form of the virus. This is because its preferred site of infection is the oral region, and the type of contact that can transmit the virus is a common form of social greeting.
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