Herpes 2 is a member of the herpes virus family that is usually linked to the incidence of genital herpes. It is also known as herpes simplex virus type two or HSV-2. About 20% of the population at any given time may carry herpes 2, and many carriers remain asymptomatic. The frequency of asymptomatic infection is one of the reasons why screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a very good idea, to ensure that any infection is caught before people have a chance to spread it to others. Your partners.
The other form of HSV is herpes 1. Herpes 1 is usually associated with oral herpes, although it can also infect the genitals, while herpes 2 is associated with genital outbreaks. In fact, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are very similar genetically, and herpes 2 tends to carry more social stigma because people think of it specifically as an STI. Both infections tend to be mild in nature, with asymptomatic infection being very common, and for this reason it is sometimes difficult to determine the source of the infection as it may be diagnosed weeks, months or years after infectious contact.
People can get herpes 2 through intimate contact with infected individuals, or from their mothers, in the case of neonatal herpes 2. In many people, the virus causes no symptoms. Other people experience distinctive lesions that spread along the genitalia in the form of fluid-filled vesicles that eventually burst and crust over. People can experience recurrent flare-ups or random flare-ups that occur infrequently, with stress being a contributing factor in the severity and frequency of flare-ups.
Herpes 2 is not curable. However, it can be managed with medications designed to reduce the frequency of flare-ups and make them shorter and less painful. These medications can also reduce the risk of asymptomatic transmission, which will help people avoid spreading the virus to uninfected partners. Doctors can provide a prescription for such drugs after evaluating the patient's condition and conducting tests to confirm that the patient has herpes 2.
People with herpes 2 should avoid intimate contact with uninfected partners when they experience outbreaks. When there are no sores, barrier protection can be used to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus, and the use of medications to control infection is strongly recommended. People should also not assume that they do not have herpes if they have never experienced lesions or outbreaks, due to the large percentage of patients who have infections without developing herpes sores.