|  | Conditions Treatments | Herpes

Description of Herpes

There are eight human herpesviruses (HHVs) (viral family Herpesviridae) that cause disease in humans, numbered HHV-1 through HHV-8. The first three of these become latent in nerve cells, while the last five go latent in immune cells. Herpes infections cause conditions ranging from cold sores to cancers, but not all of them cause disease in healthy people.

  1. Herpes Simplex Viruses

    • HHV-1 and HHV-2 (also known as HSV-1 and HSV-2) are the herpes simplex viruses. They cause cold sores and genital herpes, respectively, although each virus can sometimes cause the other condition as well. Both cold sores and genital herpes are characterized by red rash with fluid-filled blisters that break and crust over.

    Varicella-Zoster Virus

    • Varicella-zoster virus (VZV, HHV-3) causes chickenpox upon initial infection, while a recurrence leads to shingles. Both conditions are characterized by red rash with blisters, but shingles is accompanied by pain that can be severe and only appears on one side of the body, following the path of the nerve affected by the virus.

    Epstein-Barr Virus

    • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, HHV-4) does not commonly cause disease, but it is responsible for infectious mononucleosis among young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infectious mononucleosis is marked by fever, swollen pharynx and swollen lymph nodes that last between one and four weeks.

    Cytomegalovirus

    • Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) is, according to the CDC, the most common infection present at birth and can lead to birth defects. It also causes disease, including retinitis with possible blindness in people with weakened immune systems, including those with advanced HIV disease.

    Roseola

    • Roseola is caused by infection with HHV-6 or HHV-7. It is a common childhood illness marked by high fever followed by a pink rash.

    Kaposi's Sarcoma

    • Kaposi's sarcoma is a skin cancer that leads to purple lesions. It appears mostly in people with advanced HIV disease and is caused by opportunistic infection with HHV-8.

Herpes - Related Articles