Cold sores, Fever blisters, HERPES!
herpes virus
What do you know about it? How much of what you know is accurate? Did you know that cold sores and fever blisters are herpes? You can accidentally infect your children.
There are several forms of the Human Herpes Virus (HHV). Including but not limited to Herpes Simplex Viruses types 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster virus, chickenpox, mononucleosis, and the Epstein-Barr Virus.
Specifically, I want to talk about the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). There are two strains of this virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV1 – known as fever blisters, cold sores or oral herpes
- usually it affects children under the age of 5
- About 95 % of these children experience no signs of illness or rash during the first infection
- Typically, a child will catch the virus from a friend or family member who has a cold sore
- By the time they’re teenagers or young adults, about 50% of Americans have HSV-1 antibodies in their blood. By the time they are over age 50, some 80-90% of Americans have HSV-1 antibodies.
- 2/3 of infected people have no idea they are infected
HSV2 – Commonly known as genital herpes
- 1 in 4 American adults are said to have genital herpes
- 2/3 of those infected have no idea they have the virus
Symptoms
The general symptoms for HSV2 are the same as HSV1. The primary difference is that it usually HSV2 sets up residence in the sacral ganglion nerves at the base of the spine. From there, it recurs in the genital area. Sores appear the same as they do orally, appear, turn into ulcers, crust over a disappear again.
Facts
- There is no cure for genital herpes or cold sores, but you can control the outbreaks with medications such as Valtex (valacyclovir HCI) and Acyclovir (Zovirax).
- Under a microscope both viruses are virtually identical, infect the body’s mucosal surfaces and establish latency in the nervous system. For both types, at least 2/3 of infected people have no symptoms. Both types can recur and spread even when no symptoms are present
