- Herpes 1 (HSV-1) is called oral herpes because visible symptoms appear as cold sores on the mouth or face. It is the most common form of herpes.
- Herpes 2 (HSV-2) is called genital herpes because it causes sores in the genital area and on the thighs.
- Once a person has been infected with the herpes simplex virus, it stays in the body forever. At the present time, there is no cure for herpes.
- The number of outbreaks for both types tends to decrease over time, so the longer you have it, the fewer number of recurrences.
- Infection occurs from direct contact with an infected person.
- HSV-2 (genital) recurs more frequently than HSV-1 (oral), HSV-1 (genital), and HSV-2 (oral).
- Many people with oral herpes (HSV-1) get it when they are children and by the time they are adults, it is so mild that they don’t consider it a health problem.
- Most people get genital herpes as teens or adults and in the first year will have between four and six outbreaks.
The definition of herpes is a highly-infectious virus called the herpes simplex virus which creates sores on the body.
Facts About Herpes
An example of herpes is a virus that creates cold sores and fever blisters.
herpes
any of several acute inflammatory diseases, esp. herpes simplex, caused by various herpesviruses and characterized by the eruption of small blisters on the skin and mucous membranes
Origin of herpes
Classical Latin from Classical Greek herp?s, literally , a creeping, herpes from herpein, to creep: see serpentherpes
noun
Any of several viral infections marked by the eruption of small vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes, especially herpes simplex.
Origin of herpes
Middle English from Latin herpēs from Greek from herpein to creepRelated Forms:
- her·pet′ic
adjective
herpes
Noun
(plural herpeses)
Origin
From Latin herpes, from Ancient Greek ἕρπης (herpēs, “herpes; literally, a creeping”), from ἕρπειν (herpein, “to creep”).
