Skincare Treated

Many Diseases Caused By HSV

The herpes simplex virus is actually a family of viruses that affects both humans and animals. Those that infect human beings are called herpesviridae. Hence there are a number of diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Species of Viruses

There are two species of herpesviridae, called Human Herpes Virus 1 and 2 or HSV 1 and HSV1.

The former, or HSV1, usually affects the upper half of the body while the latter; HSV2 affects the lower half and usually manifests itself as genital herpes.

The most common manifestation of an HSV infection is the appearance of sores and blisters on the skin. The nature, pattern, location severity, type and number of blisters vary with the kind of HSV causing them.

These blisters are always filled with a fluid in containing the virus and any contact with this fluid spreads the disease.

Cold Sores

Among the diseases caused by HSV are cold sores, the most common manifestation of the HSV1 virus. In fact, some estimates peg its incidence at one-fifth of the US population.

But not all carriers of the virus break out in sores as the virus can reside in the nervous system for long periods of time and go undetected.

Cold sores are characterized by clusters of blisters that periodically break out on the lips and around the mouth. They are painful, ugly and in severe cases, the lesions even bleed after the blisters burst.

Cold sores are also called oral herpes, labial herpes or fever blisters.

Also among the diseases caused by HSV is herpetic whitlow. This is evident from sores on the fingertips. Medical and dental professionals often contract this disease as they are in constant contact with people’s mouths.

Wrestler’s Herpes

Then going by the rather romantic name of herpes gladiatorum is another disease caused by HSV. This form of HSV is contracted by wrestlers from direct bodily contact with an infected person.

They usually show up in the form of sores and blisters on the face, neck and arms. Due to the excessive amount of bodily contact in this sport, herpes gladiatorum can cause blisters at several sites all at once.

Another condition that crops up when discussing diseases caused by HSV is herpes gingivostomatitis. This condition affects infants and children as they are growing up and is usually typified by sores in the mouth.

The condition gets its name from the word gingival or gums where the sores occur. But there may also be blisters on the inside of the child’s cheeks, at the back of the mouth, on the tonsils, tongue or palate.

Chicken Pox & Shingles

Among the large family of diseases caused by HSV are chicken pox and shingles. These are both caused by the varicella zoster virus. Chicken pox breaks out in tiny fluid-filled blisters across the body and subsides fairly soon.

But if the varicella zoster virus lingers on in the body, it could cause shingles later on. Shingles is very different from chicken pox and strikes much later in life.

Among the diseases caused by HSV is a severe but rare condition called eczema herpeticum. This affects areas of the skin affected by trauma or damage like burns and eczema.

Also called atopic dermatitis, this disease can strike at multiple sites and various organs at the same time, like the lungs, liver, eyes and brain. It is among the most severe diseases caused by HSV.

The condition gets its name from the word gingival or gums where the sores occur. But there may also be blisters on the inside of the child’s cheeks, at the back of the mouth, on the tonsils, tongue or palate.

Chicken Pox & Shingles

Among the large family of diseases caused by HSV are chicken pox and shingles. These are both caused by the varicella zoster virus. Chicken pox breaks out in tiny fluid-filled blisters across the body and subsides fairly soon.

But if the varicella zoster virus lingers on in the body, it could cause shingles later on. Shingles is very different from chicken pox and strikes much later in life.

Among the diseases caused by HSV is a severe but rare condition called eczema herpeticum. This affects areas of the skin affected by trauma or damage like burns and eczema.

Also called atopic dermatitis, this disease can strike at multiple sites and various organs at the same time, like the lungs, liver, eyes and brain. It is among the most severe diseases caused by HSV.