Herpes queston

what is the difference between herpes and oral herpes simplex...

Oral herpes simplex:
* Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is usually associated with infections of the lips, mouth, and face. It is the most common herpes simplex virus and is usually acquired in childhood. HSV-1 often causes lesions inside the mouth such as cold sores (fever blisters) and is transmitted by contact with infected saliva. By adulthood, up to 90% of individuals will have antibodies to HSV-1.

I want to add that this type of herpes virus, is usually as a result of having chicken pox as a child.

The herpes that everyone knows.
* Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted. Symptoms include genital ulcers or sores. In addition to oral and genital lesions, the virus can also lead to complications such as meningoencephalitis (infection of the lining of the brain and the brain itself) or cause infection of the eye -- in particular the conjunctiva, and cornea. However, some people have HSV-2 but do not display symptoms. Up to 30% of U.S. adults have antibodies against HSV-2. Cross-infection of type 1 and 2 viruses may occur from oral-genital contact.

Courtesy of
http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/herpes-simplex-dictionary.htm

Anymore medicine doesn't bother to differentiate between oral and genital herpes...since the two are so often found in either area of the body (unlike 20 years ago).

Tho chicken pox is a type of herpes virus, it is NOT the precurser of genital or oral herpes...tho it may be a precuser to Shingles. There are many types of herpes viruses...oral, genital, chicken pox, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus...

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