Sometimes a person can catch it even when there are no visible signs.
Of these, 80% are fully unaware that they are infected.
Most individuals infected with HSV have either no symptoms or mild symptoms that initially go unnoticed.
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The sores are often quite painful and can be accompanied by a fever and swollen lymph glands.
Genital infections with HSV-1 occur due to oral-genital sex practices.
HSV can reactivate at any time, sometimes due to triggers.
The frequency and severity of outbreaks tend to subside over time.
Diagnosis
Diagnosisis generally made by clinical examination of the visible signs.
There is also increasing evidence that HIV transmission is substantially linked to HSV-2.
Similarly, HIV-negative people with active HSV-2 infection are at increased risk of acquiring HIV.
Treatment and Prevention of Herpes
There is currently no cure for either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Severe cases may be treated with intravenous acyclovir.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Genital Herpes CDC Fact Sheet.
Atlanta, Georgia; accessed March 26, 2014.
Wald, A.Genital HSV Infections.Sexually Transmitted Infections.June 2006; 82(3):189-190.
