There are two strains of the Herpes Simplex virus
– HSV 1 and HSV 2. Herpes
Simplex 1 or HSV 1 is what causes the cold sore
disease. It is also referred to as oral herpes. Cold
sores are also known popularly as fever blisters.
On the other hand, the HSV 2 strain causes genital
herpes as the symptoms are mostly manifested around
the genital areas in men or in women. However in some
cases even Herpes Simplex 1 can be the cause behind
genital
herpes (this happens mostly when the infected
person indulges in oral sex with his or her partner).
Though Herpes Simplex 1 and HSV 2 affect different
parts of the body, but The American Social Health
Association is of the opinion that the DNA’s
of both these strains are almost similar. In fact,
there is a 50% similarity between the two. There are
other similarities as well. Such as both Herpes Simplex
1 and 2 affect the mucosal surfaces in the body, and
in 1 out of 3 cases, the disease comes without any
symptoms at all. The only major difference between
the two is the parts of the body where the symptoms
are seen.
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While in HSV 2 the genital areas like the vagina,
the penis, the anus, butt and the inside of the thigh
is affected, in Herpes Simplex 1 the affected body
parts are the lips or around the lips, the face, inside
of the mouth, and even on the nose. Sometimes Herpes
Simplex 1 also affects the eyes and this condition
is referred to as ocular herpes or herpes keratitis.
When this happens there is pain in the eye, and some
discharge as well, and the person becomes sensitive
to light. This is a serious condition and can also
cause blindness. Very rarely the Herpes Simplex 1
disease is also seen in the fingers – this state
is known as herpetic whitlow. Then there is another
serious condition in which the virus affects the brain
and this can also be fatal. It is known as herpes
encephalitis. All these complications can arise out
of Herpes Simplex 1.
Since the disease is caused by a virus and because
of the fact that a virus cannot be ever completely
removed from the human body, Herpes
Simplex 1 and 2 for that matter too, keeps coming
back. Actually there are some triggers in the body
that kick off the return of the symptoms, even after
they have been treated and are gone. Though there
is a lot of assumption on the subject, but no one
is as yet very sure as to what these triggers exactly
are. But one thing is certain and that is, the disease
comes back more often in those who have a poor immune
system.
According to estimates as many as 100 million people
in the US alone gets attacked by the virus at a very
young age. It will stay dormant at the trigeminal
nerve, and suddenly become active some day, and the
triggers will make this happen.
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