Ways of Transmission of Herpes Virus Infection

Genital herpes is caused by two serotypes of herpes simplex: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The disease is transmitted mainly during sexual intercourse with a person diseased with genital herpes. Often genital herpes is transmitted from people with no symptoms or people who does not know they are infected.

Genital herpes rarely is transmitted other than via sexual intercourse, however, there were cases when infecting occurred via saliva, personal hygiene products and underwear. Those ways of infecting have low-probability and may occur during a very close contact with infected person who is in acuity disease. There is impossible to get infected via water-closet seats, swimming pools, common ware and towels.

Besides transmission of HVI via direct path also is possible infecting during organs transplantation, blood transfusion and during direct contact with mucosa or blood of the diseased person in acute stage. In this case danger of infection with genital herpes may lie in wait for such health professionals as gynaecologist, surgeon, dentist.

Herpes is one of most spread human viral infections. More than 90% of people worldwide are infected with herpes simplex virus and 20% among them have various clinical manifestations of the infection. More often from genital herpes do suffer women – the occurrence among women is six time higher than in men.

Moreover, in the middle of XX century HSV-1 and HSV-2 were clearly distinguished by localization, now more frequently occur cases when genitalia of both partners is infected with both types of herpes.

Therefore, today many tests, that help to detect herpes simplex virus, react on both virus types without differentiating. In 40% of cases primary infection with herpes occurs in early childhood. In this case herpes simplex virus is transmitted via airborne from relatives with active signs of herpes infection.

Factors provoking herpes virus infection:
1. lowering of immune responsiveness
2. overcooling and overheating of the body
3. cold-related diseases
4. such medical procedures as abortions or insertion of intrauterine device
5. stress
6. hormonal changes
7. alcohol

Common Info About Herpes Virus Infection

Herpes is known from long ago. For the first time it was described by Hippocrates who introduced into practice the term “herpes” from Greek meaning “creeping”. The disease got this name for its creeping character.

Herpetic skin damage were well known not only to antic and medieval physicians but also to simple people because herpes was one of most wide spread infections. However, only in 1924 scientists have proved viral nature of the disease and detected its pathogen - herpes simplex virus.

Genital herpes is known from 1736 when it was for the first time described by a French court physician  and the disease beard the name of “royal disease”. Today genital herpes morbidity in Russia, as well as in the whole word, permanently increases that is connected with spread of asymptomic and adiagnostic form of the disease.

Herpetic viruses belong to group of viruses that remain in the body for the whole life after they once entered it. Virus may live whole life in the human body without showing itself. Usually herpes manifestations or their absence depend on condition of immune system of virus carrier and his common health.

Herpes shows itself most frequently during ARVI, influenza or other diseases and conditions that weaken the immunity. Normal immunity or its right correction along with keeping to particular norms of healthy lifestyle help to prevent viruses from activation.