Also called: Also called: HSV
Herpes is an infection that is caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth or face. Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). You can get it from having sex, even oral sex. The virus can spread even when sores are not present. Mothers can also infect their babies during childbirth.
Some people have no symptoms. Others get sores near the area where the virus has entered the body. They turn into blisters, become itchy and painful, and then heal. The virus can be dangerous in newborn babies or in people with weak immune systems.
Most people have outbreaks several times a year. Over time, you get them less often. Medicines to help your body fight the virus can help lessen symptoms and decrease outbreaks. Correct usage of latex condoms can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading herpes.
- Herpes Simplex(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/viral_herpes_simplex.html
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Herpes: What It Is and How to Deal with It(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/sti/091.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/sexinfections/sti/091.printerview.html
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Learn about Herpes: Questions & Answers(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/learn_herpes_educate.cfm
- Herpes(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/herpes/test.html
- Herpes Blood Tests Quick Reference Guide(American Social Health Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ashastd.org/pdfs/blood_test.pdf
- Learn about Herpes: Signs & Symptoms(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_symptoms.cfm
- Learn about Herpes: Testing(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_testing.cfm
- Learn about Herpes: Treatment(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_treatment.cfm
- Condoms: How to Use Them Effectively(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/condoms/MY00654/METHOD=print
- How to Use a Condom(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/condom/condom_overview.cfm
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Genital Herpes(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp054.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/sp054.cfm
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Genital Herpes(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/std/Spanish/STDFact-Herpes-s.htm
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Genital Herpes
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/genitalHerpes/
- Herpes Keratitis(American Academy of Ophthalmology) - http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/infections/herpes_keratitis.cfm
- Oral Herpes(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm
- Herpes: Emotional Issues(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_emotional.cfm
- Genital Herpes(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/genitalHerpesSimplexVirusHSV.htm
- Herpetic Whitlow(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/herpeticWhitlow.htm
- Sacral Herpes(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/sacralHerpesSimplexVirusHSV.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Herpes Genitalis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Herpes+Genitalis%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Herpes Simplex(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Herpes+Simplex%22
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Herpevac Trial for Women(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/stds/herpevac/
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Herpes simplex virus as a tool to define the role... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19388172&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Male circumcision for the prevention of HSV-2 and HPV infections... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19321868&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Impervious. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19272483&tool=MedlinePlus
- Herpes Simplex -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(herpes+simplex[majr:noexp]+OR+kaposi+varicelliform+eruption[majr]+OR+herpes+genitalis[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- fever blister - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=fever+blister
- Herpes: Local HELP (Support) Groups(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_comm_support.cfm
- American Social Health Association - http://www.ashastd.org/
- National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of STD Prevention(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/std/
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Genital Herpes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/herpes.html
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/child/herpesSimplexVirusHSV.htm
- Genital Herpes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std_herpes.html
- Learn about Herpes: Pregnancy(American Social Health Association) - http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_pregnancy.cfm
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexuallytransmitteddiseases.html
- Shingles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shingles.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
- Male Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/malereproductivesystem.html
- Mouth and Teeth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mouthandteeth.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Herpes Simplex is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/