Herpes Infections

Herpes infections are marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes (such as the mouth or lips) or on the genitals. People can catch HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it's easy to see why there are so many cold sores around.The blisters resemble those seen in Chickenpox an infection caused by a third member of the alpha-Herpesviridae subfamily, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), also known as Human Herpes Virus 3 (HHV-3). Lesions heal with a crudescent scab, the hallmark of herpetic disease. HSV is generally transmitted by direct contact of lips or genitals when the sores are present, or also when no sores are present (known as viral shedding). HSV can be present in semen, vaginal fluids, and saliva. In addition, herpes may be transmitted during childbirth, which can be fatal to the infant. The immature immune system of the child is unable to defend against the virus and even if treated, infection can result in brain damage.
HSV-1 is so common that most Americans get infected with it, although many never have any symptoms. Around 1 in 5 people in the UK have frequently recurring cold sores. Some people never get them, either because they do not have the virus or because it never becomes active. Kids who get infected with HSV-1 may get cold sores occasionally for the rest of their lives That's because even after the sores themselves dry up and go away, the virus stays in the body, waiting around for another time to come out and cause more sores.