Common Causes
Herpes simplex virus enter the body through the skin, and then pass on to the nerve. They normally cause no problems. Herpes can cause skin sores when it becomes active. HSV-2 tends to be associated with genital infections, whereas HSV-1 usually causes infection on or around the lips and mouth. The neck and eyes may also be affected. Both herpes viruses can affect sites normally associated with other viruses. Other herpes virus are not associated with these issues. Herpes zoster is responsible for chickenpox. Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for infectious mononucleosis.
Transmission
Herpes virus can lead to sores when it comes in contact with anus, mouths, peniss, vaginas, or broken skin. Herpes is more infectious when the sores, also known as ulcers, are open or oozing. However, herpes can be transmitted when there are no sores and your skin comes into contact with it because of asymptomatic decrease. The virus may be present even though there are no visible symptoms. There is no way to detect asymptomatic shedding. You must therefore monitor herpes all the time even if you don’t see any symptoms.
A person could in fact cause a sore on their own skin by touching the sore. Women with vaginal HSV-2 infections may also transmit the virus during vaginal birth. Most often, this type of transmission occurs if the mother recently contracted the infection.
Reactivation of infection
The HSV virus enters the nucleus and begins the process of replication once it has entered a cell. Cells may be infected at this stage; however, you may not show any symptoms. During initial infection, nerve cells passed the virus to nerve branchings, known as ganglia. The virus remains inactive and dormant in the ganglia, not reproducing nor showing any signs that it’s even there.
A dormant viral infection can also reactivate recently, causing a new replication process. The virus will then reach the nerves and surface of the skin. This causes blisters by destroying most of the skin cells infected. These blisters can lead to the formation of ulcers, which are commonly known as cold sores or genital herpes.
