What is Genital Herpes?

Herpes, or HSV, is a virus that can easily be spread from one person to another via skin-to-skin contact.  It can manifest on many areas of the body, and an outbreak is typically characterized by a cluster of blisters. Some patients, however, show no outward symptoms of the virus at all.

Types of herpes virus

There are several types of viruses that can be classified as being herpes.  Those affecting humans include the following:

a) Herpes simple virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 – These are the viruses commonly responsible for cold sores and genital herpes

b) Varicella (the zoster virus)
c) Epstein-Barr virus
d)  Human cytomegalovirus
e)  Human herpes virus

Herpes viruses are also common among animals, particularly simians (monkeys), cats, chickens, and cows.

Conditions caused by herpes viruses:

Herpes simplex:
Cold sores
Genital herpes
Herpes Whitlow

Varicella-zoster virus:
Chickenpox
Shingles

Epstein-Barr virus:
Glandular fever
Infectious mononucleosis (“mono”)
and others