All About Herpes

Herpes is an infection caused by a virus called ‘Herpes Simplex’. There are two types 1 and 2. Both can cause both cold sores around the mouth and genital herpes, but type 1 usually causes cold sores and type 2 usually causes genital herpes.

Sometimes people get muddled about ‘herpes’ because there is another virus called Herpes Zoster which causes both chicken pox and shingles. But when people normally refer to getting herpes – they are referring either to cold sores or to genital herpes.

The herpes simplex virus gets passed on through skin to skin contact so kissing; oral sex; and ordinary sexual intercourse.

Cold Sores

Most people have had a cold sore at one time or another – and it is usually appears as one or more sores/blisters around your mouth. The reason that they are called ‘cold’ sores because they tend to pop up again when the weather is very cold, though in some people get them on sunny days. Once you have got infected with the virus it tends to hang around even when you don’t have the actual blisters. Cold sores are best treated with anti viral cream called Aciclovir (Zovorax) which you can buy over the counter at your local pharmacy. There are also other brands available.

People often get a funny tingly feeling before the blisters caused by the virus actually appear and that this the time to slap on the acicilovar cream.

Gential Herpes

See Sexually Transmitted Infections