A Report On Herpes Simplex Viruses

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) is can be categorized into 2 types, HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2), both viruses share similar genome structure. HSV-1 cause oral herpes, generally transmitted through oral secretion, can be spread through kissing or sharing objects such as toothbrush, cups and tableware, which can result in cold sores and painful blister at the site of infection. People won’t easily get infected from hugging, holding hands, coughing or sneezing because the virus would not survive a long period outside the body. However, most of the infected people do not show any sores or symptoms. Most of them infected through non-sexual contact such as saliva during young age. This is because HSV can pass to baby via vertical transmission from an infected mother, it was rare but possible to happen. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it is more commonly caused by HSV-2. People who infected by HSV-1 can develop genital herpes through oral sex that spread the virus from mouth to genital area.

Same as HSV-1, HSV-2-infected people may have sores around the genitals or rectum. Prevalence of HSV-2 infection in Afrika (31. 5%) was the highest among others, followed by Americas (14. 4%). The HSV-2 infection was steadily increase with age and more often infected by female compared to male because HSV sexual transmission from male to female is more efficient.

Some general symptoms appeared in HSV-2 infected people include fatigue, having physical or emotional stress, menstruation problems and immunosuppression due to AIDS or under medication therapy such as chemotherapy.

HSV type 2 can be highly contagious especially when sexually active people do not practice safety protection steps during sexual activities when they are in the absence of symptoms. A condom or other barrier method should be used in the right way during intercourse to lower the risk of the virus transmission to sexual partners. However, the virus still can pass to partner if exposed to uncovered skin. Therefore, HSV-2 infected people are advisable to avoid sexual activities with other people during an outbreak.

In addition, risk of HIV infection transmission is generally increasing with infection with HSV-2 about three-fold. More recurrences occur and they present with more severe complication such as meningitis esophagitis, pneumonitis and so on.