Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, one that is more commonplace than most people realize. The disease can be passed between parties without penetration. All that is needed are bodily fluids, which can be passed through oral-genital contact, or even oral to oral contact.
The two main types of herpes are HSV-1 and HSV-2. While these two types of herpes are similar in that they both involve the onset of cold sores that are quite painful for the patient, in reality, they are much different from one another. Conventional wisdom used to dictate that HSV-1 took place above the belt, while HSV-2 happened below the belt.
HSV-1
More people are positive for HSV-1 and a large number of citizens unknowingly carry the virus. HSV-1 can be found in more than half of the population, but since there are typically very few outbreaks, most are unaware. On the other hand, HSV-2 only occurs in roughly 15 percent of people.
Although each type of herpes does involve a similar type of cold sore, one of the most prominent differences between the two is the risk of recurrence once it has been eradicated. Since many patients acquire the virus and shed it without even knowing that they had it in the first place, knowing these differences is important.
While HSV-1 and HSV-2 both have their preferred areas of the body, you can certainly still receive HSV-2 above the belt and HSV-1 can still take place below the belt. If HSV-1 is found on a person’s genitalia, then it is far less likely to shed in a sporadic manner. Cold sores for HSV-1 patients have a reduced instance of recurrence.
HSV-2
The same is true for patients who experience HSV-2 in and around the mouth. Each of these viruses can and will show up unannounced in an area that is different from their natural habitat, but there is a decrease in recurrence risk in these instances. HSV-1 tends to remain dormant, while HSV-2 finds latency in the nerve cells, which leads to further recurrences.
HSV-1 infections also tend to be much more serious in nature and can even cause blindness when not treated properly. An untreated HSV-1 infection leads to ocular herpes in several instances. HSV-2 is less serious and does not typically spread to other areas of the body if it goes untreated. Under most circumstances, it will not threaten a patient’s overall health.
These two viruses share a very similar genetic makeup and are often considered to be the same virus. However, HSV-1 flareups are much more serious than HSV-2 occurrences, even though the HSV-2 virus typically establishes itself within a person’s nerve cells. Should you begin to exhibit symptoms of either virus, be sure to schedule an appointment with your medical professional immediately.