What is the cause of herpes simplex virus

When it comes to treating the skin, plenty of people say they have expertise. Only a board-certified dermatologist has these credentials. Many people who get the virus that causes herpes never see or feel anything. If signs what you see or symptoms what you feel occur, a person may experience:. Tingling, itching, or burning. Before the blisters appear, the skin may tingle, itch, or burn for a day or so. One or more painful, fluid-filled blisters may appear.

Blisters break open and often ooze fluid and form a crust, before healing. The first time sores appear, they will show up between 2 and 20 days after a person has contact with an infected person. The sores can last from 7 to 10 days. These viruses are contagious and transmitted from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. Kissing or touching is the main cause of HSV-1 transmission, and sexual contact is the main cause of HSV-2 transmission.

Herpes simplex viruses enter through the skin and travel to the nerves, where they generally do not cause problems. Herpes can cause skin sores, however, when the viruses become active. HSV-1 is normally associated with infections on or around the mouth and lips, and HSV-2 is usually associated with genital infections. Other locations in the body, such as the eyes or neck, can also be affected.

Each of these two viruses can affect the areas that are typically associated with the other virus. There are also other herpes viruses, though they aren't associated with these issues. For example, chickenpox is caused by herpes zoster. Infectious mononucleosis a. The herpes viruses spread when they come in contact with broken skin or with the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus.

While herpes is most contagious when ulcers are open or oozing, it can also be spread when sores are not present and when the skin is perfectly intact due to what's known as asymptomatic shedding.

In other words, the virus is there and can be passed even though there's no obvious sign of it. Unfortunately, there is no way to detect asymptomatic shedding, so you have to consider herpes contagious all the time, even in the absence of symptoms.

People can re-infect themselves by touching a sore and then scratching or rubbing another area of skin on their own body. Women who have vaginal HSV-2 infections can also transmit the virus to their babies during vaginal delivery. This type of transmission is more common if the mother has newly acquired the infection. Once it enters a human cell, the HSV virus penetrates the cell's nucleus and begins the process of replication. At this stage, even though cells may be infected, you probably will not experience any symptoms.

During the initial infection, the virus is transported through nerve cells to nerve-branching points, known as ganglia. It is there that the virus will stay in an inactive, dormant state, neither replicating nor presenting any signs that it's even there. On occasion, the dormant virus may suddenly reactivate, starting the replication process anew. Below is a gallery of images that can help you identify a herpes outbreak in or around your buttocks.

Identifying red, itchy bumps or blisters along with fever, body aches, or swollen lymph nodes may prompt a medical professional to test for the presence of the herpes virus in your body. Tests performed by a laboratory are needed to confirm a diagnosis of any kind of herpes.

If your sores or blisters are producing fluid, a healthcare professional can take a sample of the fluid and send it to a lab. The fluid will be examined for herpes and to see what type of HSV is causing the infection. A blood test can also be used to diagnose HSV. The test looks for antibodies created to attack the virus. Also, the blood test might not reveal a positive result immediately. Your result could come back negative after you first outbreak. But there are many effective treatments for herpes outbreaks.

Some outbreaks go away on their own. Typically, a herpes outbreak will disappear after 1 to 2 weeks without medical treatment, especially if you keep the area clean. After a diagnosis of herpes on the buttocks, a doctor may recommend several treatment options to help relieve your symptoms and prevent recurring outbreaks. Here are 5 things you can do to help your teen.

Find out what helps. If your child develops scabies, everyone in your household will need treatment. Follow this advice to treat everyone safely and effectively. A chronic skin condition can make attending summer camp unrealistic for some children. Camp Discovery changes that.

Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying. When it comes to treating the skin, plenty of people say they have expertise.