Associated Herpes Viruses.1

Herpes is a disease posing great risk to the community and is of growing public health importance. Keeping yourself informed is your best protection. The Herpes family of viruses is large.

Human herpes viruses include:

Epstein-Barr Virus

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2

Human cytomegalovirus

Varicella-Zoster virus

These viruses cause or are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases ranging from infectious mononucleosis to malignancies and mental retardation and have the ability to cause more than one kind of disease.

Herpes Type I

affects the skin and mucous membranes

is transmitted by oral and respiratory secretions

produces cold sores or fever blisters

Herpes Type II

is transmitted by sexual contact, with cross-infection possible from oral/genital sex

primarily affects the genital area

Approximately 85% of all HV infections are sub-clinical, the others produce localized lesions and systemic reactions.

After the first infection, a patient is susceptible to recurrent infections brought on by:

fever

heat and/or cold

menses

stress

In recurrent infections there may be no constitutional signs and symptoms. Herpes occurs equally in males and females.

Herpes Zoster

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) is an acute unilateral and segmental inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia caused by infection with the herpes virus, varicella-zoster, which also causes chicken pox.

Herpes Zoster usually occurs in adults producing:

localized vesicular skin lesions confined to a dermatome

severe neuralgic pain in peripheral areas especially the nerves arising in the inflamed root ganglia

Prognosis

Unless the infection spreads to the brain eventually most patients recover completely, except for possible scarring and, in corneal damage, visual impairment. However, in some cases neuralgia may persist for months or years.

Herpes zoster results from reactivation of the varicella virus that has lain dormant in the cerebral ganglia or the ganglia of posterior nerve roots after infection from chicken pox.

The virus is thought to multiply as it is reactivated and is neutralized by antibodies remaining from the initial infection. However, the virus continues to multiply in the ganglia, destroys the host neuron, and spreads down the sensory nerves to the skin if effective antibodies are not present.

Herpes zoster is found primarily in adults over 50 and seldom recurs.

Onset of herpes zoster is characterized by:

fever

malaise

Within 2-4 days, severe deep, continuous pain may develop

Other symptoms may include:

hyperesthesia (abnormally increased sensitivity to stimuli)

paresthesia (an abnormal or perverted sensation, such as burning or tingling due to disorder of the sensory nervous system)

pruritus (itching)

This usually occurs on the trunk and occasionally on the arms and legs lasting from 1-4 weeks.

Small red nodular skin lesions can continue to erupt on the painful areas up to 2 weeks after the first symptoms.

Source: http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/std/herpes.htm