STI Deep Dive- HSV 1 & 2

My last deep dive on a STI was on HPV. Two STIs that is commonly confused with HPV or put together with it are HSV-1 and HSV-2. Herpes simplex type 1, typically causing cold sores around the mouth, is a common infection, estimated to affect 3.8 billion people under the age of 50 globally. Herpes simplex type 2 usually causes sores in the genital area, and an estimated 520 million people aged 15–49 world-wide have this type of infection. Genital HSV-2 infections are more common in women than men.

The herpes simplex virus lives inside of nerve cells. It alternates between being inactive and active. Active cycles can be triggered by illness or fever, sun exposure, injury, emotional stress, surgery, and menstrual cycle.

Most people with either virus have no symptoms or experience only mild symptoms. Because of this, many people aren’t aware that they have the infection and can pass along the virus without knowing. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact with the blisters, but it is possible for it to spread from normal unbroken skin or through bodily fluids like saliva or genital fluids.

The infection can cause painful blisters or ulcers that can recur over time. New infections may cause fever, sore throat, headache, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms may be different at the time of the first outbreak. The blisters may break open, ooze, and then crust over. When symptoms reoccur, they often begin with tingling, itching, or burning where the sores will appear. These recurrences are usually shorter and…