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Herpes simplex virus testing is performed to identify anacuteherpes infection or to detect herpesantibodies, an indication of a previous exposure to herpes. One of the most commonviralinfections, herpes simplex virus (HSV) exists as two main types, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types are contagious and periodically cause small fever blisters (vesicles) that break to form open lesions. HSV-1 primarily causes blisters or "cold sores" around the oral cavity and mouth, while HSV-2 usually causes lesions around the genital area; however, either one can affect the oral or genital area.
The herpes simplex virus can be passed from person to person through skin contact while the sores are open and healing and sometimeswhen there are no visible sores. HSV-2 is frequently asexually transmitted disease, but HSV-1 also may be acquired during oral sex and found in the genital area. According to the American Sexual Health Association and its Herpes Resource Center, about 50% of adults in the U.S. have HSV-1 and about 17% have HSV-2. Because symptoms may be mild, however, 90% of those who have HSV-2 may be unaware that they have been infected.
When someone is first infected, the person may have obvious and painful blisters at the site of infection, which usually appear within two weeks after the virus is transmitted. The lesions generally heal within two to four weeks. The blisters can appear in the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anus, or on the buttocks or thighs. This primary episode can include a second outbreak of blisters and even flu-like symptoms such as fever and swollen glands. However, not everyone develops blisters, and sometimes symptoms are so mild that they are unnoticeable or mistaken for something else, such as insect bites or a rash.
Once someone is infected and the initial infection resolves, the person will harbor the HSV in alatentform. During periods of stress or illness, the virus may reactivate.
People with conditions that cause theirimmune systemto be suppressed, such as those withHIV/AIDSor those who have had an organ transplant, may have more frequent and serious outbreaks of HSV. While there is no cure for herpes, antiviral medications can suppress outbreaks and shorten the duration of symptoms and active shedding of virus.
Rarely, the virus can cause neonatal herpes when a woman transmits the virus to her baby during a vaginal delivery. Neonatal herpes symptoms appear during the first month of life and, if left untreated, can cause long-term damage to a baby's health. A pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with herpes may be monitored regularly prior to delivery to identify a reactivation of her infection, which would indicate the necessity for a caesarean section to avoid infecting the baby.
The herpes simplex virus can be transmitted to the brain, causingencephalitis. This illness can be fatal or cause serious, permanent neurological problems in those who survive.
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