Herpes meaning

hûr'pēz
The definition of herpes is a highly-infectious virus called the herpes simplex virus which creates sores on the body.
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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.
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Herpes 2 (HSV-2) is called genital herpes because it causes sores in the genital area and on the thighs.
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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.
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The number of outbreaks for both types tends to decrease over time, so the longer you have it, the fewer number of recurrences.
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Infection occurs from direct contact with an infected person.
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HSV-2 (genital) recurs more frequently than HSV-1 (oral), HSV-1 (genital), and HSV-2 (oral).
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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.
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Most people get genital herpes as teens or adults and in the first year will have between four and six outbreaks.

An example of herpes is a virus that creates cold sores and fever blisters.

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Any of several viral infections marked by the eruption of small vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes, especially herpes simplex.
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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.
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Any of several viral infections marked by the eruption of small vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes, especially herpes simplex.
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Any of several infections caused by the herpes simplex virus of the genus Simplexvirus or by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus of the genus Varicellavirus. Herpes infections are characterized by painful blisters on the skin or a mucous membrane and are highly contagious. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Varicella-zoster infection is also called shingles.
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(medicine) A viral infection, caused by the Herpes simplex virus, marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes or on the genitals.
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Origin of herpes

  • Middle English from Latin herpēs from Greek from herpein to creep
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Latin herpes, from Ancient Greek ἕρπης (herpēs, “herpes; literally, a creeping”), from ἕρπειν (herpein, “to creep”).
    From Wiktionary

Herpes Sentence Examples

  • This form of neuralgia is occasionally the precursor of an attack of shingles (Herpes zoster) as well as a result of it.

  • Some children have a serious primary (first episode) herpes infection called gingivostomatitis, which causes fever, swollen lymph glands, and several blisters inside the mouth and on the lips and tongue that may form large, open sores.

  • As of 2004, two relatively newer drugs for treatment of shingles are valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir (Famvir), both of which stop the replication of herpes zoster when administered within 72 hours of appearance of the rash.

  • Although evidence has not ruled out a booster shot later in life, all research addressing the vaccine's effectiveness throughout its six-year use indicates that chickenpox may be the first human herpes virus to be wiped out.

  • If there is no relief of symptoms in 48 to 72 hours, or there is moderate to severe eye pain, changes in vision, or the conjunctivitis is suspected to be caused by herpes simplex, a physician should be notified immediately.

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Words near herpes in the Dictionary