About Herpes
What Is Herpes?
Herpes is a common and usually mild infection. It can cause "cold sores"
or "fever blisters" on the mouth or face (known as "oral herpes") and
similar symptoms in the genital area ("genital herpes").
What Causes Herpes?
Either of two viruses can cause herpes: herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1)
and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2). Both are part of a larger family
of "herpesviruses" that includes varicella zoster virus, the cause of
chicken pox and shingles; and Epstein Barr virus, the cause of "mono."
Herpes simplex is different from many other common viral infections
in several ways. Most importantly, herpes sets up a lifelong presence
in the body. The virus can travel the nerve pathways in a particular
part of the body and hide away in the nerve roots for long periods of
time. This means that even though HSV may not be causing "cold sores"
or genital symptoms at a given time, it can still cause symptoms later
when HSV wakes up ("reactivates") and travels back to the skin.
What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Herpes?
The majority of oral herpes infections are caused by HSV-1, and most
people contract oral herpes when they are young. This may occur when
a child receives a kiss from a person who has a cold sore or from other
childhood physical contact (daycare, etc.).
Many people with oral HSV do not have cold sores or other symptoms.
It's estimated that only 20% to 40% of people with oral herpes have
recurrent cold sores as adults.
Classic symptoms of oral herpes can appear as a single blister or cluster
of blisters ("cold sores") on the lips but may also occur on other areas
around the face such as the cheeks, chin, or nose. Subtle oral HSV symptoms
can be easily mistaken for another infection or condition such as a
small crack or cut in the skin, chapped lips, bug bite, or a pimple,
to name a few examples.
What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes?
Most often caused by HSV-2, symptoms of genital herpes vary greatly
from one person to the next. The majority of people have such mild symptoms
that they may not recognize the infection for many years. Out of the
one in five adults (males and females) in the United States who have
genital herpes, more than 80% have not been diagnosed and are unaware
they have it.
The most noticeable symptoms tend to occur shortly after a person contracts
the virus, when her or his immune response to herpes is not fully developed
("first episode"). Later symptoms tend to be milder because the immune
response recognizes the virus and can quickly respond to it.
For some, symptoms during a first episode can be severe, appearing
as small fluid filled blisters that crust over and scab like a small
cut, sometimes taking more than two weeks to fully heal. Symptoms of
a first episode may also include flu-like symptoms, such as fever and
swollen glands, particularly in the groin. On the other hand, most people
have first episode symptoms so mild they don't even notice them. It
may be another episode, or "reactivation," that is first noticed months
or even years later.
Right before an outbreak, many people experience an itching, tingling,
or burning feeling in the area where their herpes symptoms will develop.
This sort of warning symptom is called a "prodrome" and often precedes
visible signs of infection by a day or two. In some people, prodrome
will involve pain in the buttocks, the back of the legs, or even lower
back.
How Is It That Herpes Symptoms Can Go Unrecognized?
Many people have very subtle forms of recurrent herpes that can heal
in a matter of days. While recurrences of herpes may cause the classic
blisters, other symptoms caused by HSV can easily be mistaken for insect
bites, ingrown hairs, abrasions, yeast infections, "jock itch," hemorrhoids,
and other conditions.
Can Herpes Be Active Without Causing Symptoms?
It was once thought that all of HSV's active times were marked by "outbreaks"-a
sore, blister, bump, rash, or some other kind of symptom like an itch.
However, researchers have learned that there are days when HSV can become
active without causing symptoms. This is often called "asymptomatic
viral shedding." And during these times, because there are no recognizable
signs that the virus has made its way to the skin, there is no way of
knowing when asymptomatic shedding is occurring.
How Is Herpes Transmitted?
Herpes is spread most efficiently by direct skin-to-skin contact. More
specifically, the soft moist tissue of the mouth and genitals are most
vulnerable to HSV if these areas come into contact with the virus.
The following scenarios illustrate how HSV is most often transmitted:
- If a person has a cold sore and kisses someone, the virus can be
passed to the other person's mouth.
- If a person has active genital herpes and engages in direct genital-to-genital
contact, the virus can be transmitted from her or his genitals to
a partner's.
- If someone with a cold sore places his or her mouth on a partner's
genitals (oral sex), the partner can contract genital herpes.
Herpes can be transmitted through sexual contact during asymptomatic
viral shedding or times when there are no obvious symptoms. Herpes is
often passed by people who do not know they have herpes, or by people
who simply don't recognize that their herpes infection is in an active
phase.
Can Herpes Be Prevented?
Preventing herpes can be a difficult challenge. First, HSV is widespread,
with more than two out of three adults infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Second, most people who have HSV are unaware that they have the infection.
And third, even among those who are aware of their infection, there
are times of asymptomatic viral shedding when HSV becomes active without
symptoms and can be transmitted.
While there are vaccines in development to prevent herpes (such as
the vaccine used in the Herpevac Trial for Women), currently
the only 100% effective method of preventing genital herpes infection
is to abstain from any form of genital-to-genital contact or oral-to-genital
contact. However, given that most adults will have a sexual relationship
at some point in their lives, it is important to understand how herpes
is transmitted along with other ways to reduce the risk of contracting
the virus.
How Can One Reduce The Risk Of Getting Herpes?
In a sexual relationship, there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting
herpes:
- Talk. Talk with a partner about herpes, other sexually
transmitted diseases and birth control before engaging in sexual contact.
Finding out if a partner has herpes or other STDs can help both individuals
decide which precautions are right for them.
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact with herpes lesions.
If your partner has a cold sore or a genital lesion, avoid kissing,
oral-genital, or genital-to-genital contact. Symptoms of prodrome
and outbreaks indicate viral activity and pose the greatest risk of
passing the virus to another person.
- Use condoms between outbreaks as a guard against unrecognized
herpes. Consistent and correct use of condoms effectively
reduces (but does not eliminate) the risk of contracting herpes. Condoms
are not recommended as protection during herpes
outbreaks because a lesion may be in a place the condom doesn't cover.
But they decrease the risk of genital herpes during asymptomatic shedding,
especially if used consistently.
- Antiviral medication may help. For individuals
with genital herpes, taking a 500mg dose of valacyclovir each day
has been shown to decrease the risk of a partner developing genital
herpes symptoms by 77% and the overall risk of HSV infection by 50%.
What About Pregnancy?
Transmission of herpes to newborns is rare and most mothers with a history
of genital herpes have vaginal deliveries and healthy babies. However,
an infant who gets herpes can become very ill or die. If a woman becomes
pregnant, it is important to tell her health care provider if either
she or her partner has genital herpes.
If a woman has no history of herpes but has a sexual partner who does,
it is especially important that she avoid contracting herpes during
pregnancy. A first infection during late pregnancy is the most serious
risk to the baby.
What About Testing For Herpes?
There are several tests for herpes. If signs and symptoms are present,
a health care provider can look at the area, take a sample (culture)
from the symptomatic area, and test to see if the herpes virus is present.
From this culture test, a second test can be run to tell whether the
virus present is HSV-1 or HSV-2. A culture test will not work if the
lesions have healed, and might not work if they're more than a few days
old.
Blood tests are also available to test to see if a person has herpes.
"Type-specific blood tests" can accurately determine if a person has
HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 by looking for an immune response (antibodies) to
the virus. Some older blood tests for herpes are not "type-specific"
and can give false results. Therefore, if a blood test is performed,
it is important to ensure that it can accurately identify HSV antibodies.
The tests used in the Herpevac Trial for Women fall within
this type-specific category.
What Is The Meaning Of A 'Positive' Herpes
Blood Test?
Even the type-specific blood tests, such as the ones used in the Herpevac
Trial for Women, have some limitations. The antibodies they detect
indicate long-term HSV infection, but these tests alone cannot tell
for certain whether the infection is oral or genital.
If someone tests positive for HSV-1 or HSV-2...
- A positive HSV-1 result most likely indicates an oral infection,
though HSV-1 can also cause genital infection.
- A positive HSV-2 test result strongly indicates genital herpes.
It is rare for oral herpes to be caused by HSV-2.
- It is also possible to test positive for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Testing
positive for both simply means that a person has both oral and genital
herpes, which is not uncommon.
What Is The Meaning Of A 'Negative' Herpes
Blood Test?
Testing negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2 indicates that the individual has
not contracted a herpes infection. Females who test negative for both
types of HSV may be eligible to participate in the Herpevac Trial
for Women.
Where Can I Learn More About Herpes?
Visit the "Links" section of the Herpevac Trial for Women Web
site to locate additional resources that provide herpes information.