Herpes causes
HSV can easily be transmitted from one person to another by contact with moist skin on the genitals or mouth (the anus). Contact with the virus can also be spread through other parts of the skin and eyes. HSV cannot be contracted by touching an object or surface such as a washbasin or towel. The following are possible ways of infection:
- Contact with another person who has herpes, whether it is genital or verbal
- Sharing sex toys
- Anal or vaginal sexual activity without barrier protection such as a Condom
The most infectious period is between the first appearance of symptoms and their cure. A person can still transmit the virus even if no signs of infection are present. The virus can be passed to the child if a woman with genital herpes has sores during pregnancy. Sores on the skin could make HIV more easily transmitted and contracted by someone with genital herpes. HSV-2 increases the number of CD4-cells in the lining genital, which could lead to infection when an individual is exposed HIV. HIV-positive individuals have weakened immune systems, which increases the risk of serious complications. (4)
If an individual has oral or throat herpes with a weakened immune system, there is a higher risk that they will develop keratitis (inflammation of the eye) or encephalitis (brain inflammation). When an individual has genital herpes, and their immune system is weakened, they are at a higher risk of developing inflammations of the lungs, eyes, brain, or esophagus, as well as a widespread infection. HSV can be transmitted by direct contact to sores. It is possible to contract HSV or transmit it even if symptoms are absent. The majority of people get HSV from others who are unaware they have the virus.
When you have HSV, you may pass on particles of the virus to others. The virus sheds when there are obvious symptoms and sores, but also at other times. HSV can be present without you knowing it. Research suggests that shedding can also occur on:
- You will have symptoms of HSV around 20 percent of the time.
- You will have HSV asymptomatic about 10 percent of the time.
But several factors might affect viral shedding, consisting:
- HSV-2, which affects the genitals and HSV-1, which impacts on the genitals should have less recurrent shedding.
- If you have a compromised immune system, you may be prone to shedding the virus.
- The length of time you’ve had HSV tends to decrease over time. You are more likely than someone newly infected with HSV to reduce the virus if you have had it for almost ten years.
Herpes can be caused by the herpes virus type 1 or 2. These viruses are contagious and spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contacts. Sexual contact is primarily caused by touching or kissing, and HSV-1 is the primary cause of HSV-2.
