Epidemiology:

• Primary infection is asymptomatic in 2/3 of patients with either HSV1 or HSV2
• 50-80% of adults are HSV1 seropositive
• 20-40% of adults are HSV2 seropositive
• Herpes genitalis is 70% HSV2 & 30% HSV1
• 90% of HSV infected individuals have recurrences
• Herpes genitalis recurs more frequently in HSV2 infected individuals than in HSV1
• Herpes labialis is the most common form of recurrent HSV1
• 33% of women & 10% of men have meningitis with primary genital HSV
• Herpes genitalis increases risk of HIV transmission & acquisition
• Risk of fetal infection is 40% in primary herpes genitalis of pregnancy
• Risk of fetal infection is very rare in recurrent herpes genitalis of pregnancy
• Although herpes sores heal in days or weeks, herpes does not leave the body

Pathogenesis:

The virus travels to nerve cells near the spine. It stays there until some event triggers a new bout. Then the viruses leave their resting place and travel along the nerves, back to where they first entered the body. This causes new blisters to occur.

Therapy: