Common Characteristics of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is among the many diseases caused by herpes virus, a family of viruses with five different
strains afflicting humans with a variety of diseases that include chicken pox, shingles and mononucleosis.
The most common strain, herpes simplex, has two variations: Type 1, which is usually associated with cold
sores or fever blisters around the mouth; and Type 2, which generally infects the genitalia, buttocks and
thighs with painful sores and blisters. The two types are not confined to these areas, however; studies
have found Type 1 herpes virus in genital sores and Type 2 viruses in mouth and throat infections. Other
parts of the body also may be affected, including the hands, eyes, brain and spinal cord.
Although herpes viruses cause a wide variety of illnesses and have been studied extensively for the last few
decades, they remain a medical enigma. Once they invade the body, herpes viruses remain for life although
they may be dormant most of the time. some, such as the varicella-zoster strain, may have different manifestations.
This variety causes chicken pox in children, after which the virus remains dormant in the nervous system.
In most people, the virus never again becomes active, but for unknown reasons, in others it may erupt into
painful attacks of herpes zoster, more commonly known as shingles. Similarly, herpes simplex also goes through
recurring cycles of infectious activity and dormancy.
