Millenium Health Tips

Definition

Herpes is a contagious viral disease that comes in episodes. This disease is known since antiquity. The virus responsible for herpes belongs to the family of herpes viridae which brings together many viruses. Everyone is responsible for a particular disease such as Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the virus that causes herpes.
Extremely small infectious particle, it multiplies in the body where it remains now between outbreaks.

There are two types:

1. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), mainly responsible for herpes labialis
2. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), mainly responsible for genital herpes

It is a contagious viral disease which is a form genital sexually transmitted disease.

Herpes is a disease considered as benign in healthy subjects, it can be very serious in people with immune deficiencies, infants or pregnant women.