Herpes is an orally or sexually transmitted disease that causes sores, lesions or warts on the body. While herpes is most commonly associated as a sexually transmitted causes genital warts, this virus can also cause lesions on the face and mouth. The virus lives in the nervous system of humans. Herpes is easily transmitted and can lead to complications such as blindness, eye infections and an increased risk of HIV infection.
Definition
1, also known as HSV-1, is one of the two strains of the herpes virus. Herpes type 1 is responsible for causing cold sores and other oral and facial lesions. In some cases, this strain of herpes can cause sores and lesions in the genital area. After infecting a person, the 1 virus lives in the host's nervous system. The virus might be triggered to cause a subsequent outbreak through injury or trauma to the mouth or exposure to sunlight.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of herpes type 1 are cold sores and blisters on the face or mouth. The appearance of these lesions is usually preceded by a prodrome stage, which includes itching, burning or tingling at the infected site. In some cases, herpes type 1 might cause an outbreak of blisters and sores near the anus and genitals. Other people might carry herpes type 1 but never exhibit symptoms of the virus.
Treatment
Herpes type 1 cannot be cured, and the virus itself cannot be treated. A physician might prescribe medication to control, shorten and prevent a herpes outbreak. People with herpes type 1 can take preventative antiviral medications such as Valtrex that decrease the rate at which herpes reproduces. Creams, gels and ointments are used to treat blisters and sores from an outbreak. Abreva, a topical cream, is an over-the-counter antiviral treatment that aids cold sores in healing faster.
Transmission
Herpes type 1 is generally spread through oral contact but can also spread through genital-oral contact. According to the National Institutes of Health, this strain of the virus is most common, and people usually catch herpes type 1 as a child. The National Institutes of Health estimates nearly 90 percent of adults have herpes type 1 antibodies. Herpes type 1 is usually contagious when the person has an outbreak of sores or blisters, though the host might also be infectious while exhibiting no outward signs of the virus.
Time Frame
Once a person becomes infected with the herpes type 1 virus, he will be a herpes carrier for life. Though the virus stays with the person for life, the symptoms of herpes, also known as outbreaks, only occur periodically. The first herpes type 1 outbreak is typically the longest and might last from two to four weeks. The frequency of subsequent outbreaks varies among patients but can occur up to several times a year.
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