What is the difference between herpes simplex 1 and 2

These medications may come in oral pill form, or may be applied as a cream. For severe outbreaks, these medications may also be administered by injection. People who contract HSV will have the virus for the rest of their lives.

Even if it does not manifest symptoms, the virus will continue to live in nerve cells. Some people may experience regular outbreaks. Others will only experience one outbreak after they contract the virus, and then the virus may become dormant.

Even if a virus is dormant, certain stimuli can trigger an outbreak. These include:. If a generally healthy person contracts the virus, there are usually no complications.

Although there is no cure for herpes, you can take measures to avoid contracting the virus, or to prevent transmitting HSV to another person.

People with HSV-2 should avoid any type of sexual activity with other people during an outbreak. If the person is not experiencing symptoms but has been diagnosed with the virus, a condom should be used during intercourse. But even when using a condom, the virus can still be passed to a partner from uncovered skin. Women who are pregnant and have an infection may have to take medication to prevent the virus from infecting their unborn babies.

HPV and herpes are both common viruses that are typically transmitted sexually. They share many traits: Both can present with genital warts, have no…. Understanding the risks and knowing the signs of common STDs is crucial for men who are sexually active.

Well, yes, but the true difference between the two types is the risk of recurrence. Once it visits above or below the belt, it has been there and done that. But if a patient has oral HSV-1, he or she may have another outbreak or, sorry to say, get outbreaks several times a year. Just know that there are prescription medications that can make the HSV-1 oral herpes go away within 2 days. This can have a big impact on mental health. Gelow helped break down the two common types of herpes viruses and answered some common questions associated with them.

Although they are the same family of the virus, they are different subtypes. HSV-2 is generally contracted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Gelow said. Most commonly, HSV-1 causes sores around the mouth and lips—often called cold sores or fever blisters. Typically, someone with HSV-2 will have sores around the genitals or rectum.

Symptoms are usually the most intense during the first outbreak and become less intense over time. Symptoms can last weeks before resolving on their own without medicine, and even longer during the initial infection.

HSV-1 most commonly produces oral herpes cold sores. People infected with the virus usually go through an initial outbreak shortly after catching the virus. This is usually an intense outbreak that features cold sores and a variety of flu-like symptoms. An initial outbreak of HSV-1 can last for two to three weeks. Our guide to stopping a cold sore in the early stages goes through the different stages of an HSV-1 outbreak, explaining how a sore can develop, break open and spread infectious fluid before eventually healing.

After the initial outbreak, HSV-1 can reoccur for a variety of reasons. Some people with HSV-1 experience outbreaks every few months, while others only experience outbreaks after a certain trigger event occurs. Many people with HSV-1 experience no symptoms at all. Although rare, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes. In this case, the virus infects nerve cells in the lower spine and causes sores to develop on and around the genitals and anus, not the lips and mouth.

HSV-2 almost exclusively causes genital herpes. After becoming infected with the virus, people with HSV-2 typically go through an initial outbreak.

The symptoms are similar to an initial HSV-1 outbreak, albeit localized to the genitals rather than the mouth and lips. The most obvious symptom of HSV-2 is the development genital herpes sores, which can form on the genitals, in the groin and upper thigh area and around the anus.

Initial HSV-2 outbreaks can include a range of additional symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, glandular swelling and nausea. Many people with HSV-2 mistake the initial symptoms for the flu before the genital herpes lesions become visible.