How do you get Herpes Simplex 1 or 2?

HSV1 and 2 can only be contracted through body fluid, which could be saliva, semen or fluid in the female genital tract. In order to be infected, the virus mus have direct access through injurie in the skin or the mucus membrane.

The virus inside the body enters vulnerable cells under the lower layer of the skin tissue and reproduces in the cell nuclei. In most cases, there is no symptom even after the virus has penetrated a cell. Blisters and ulcers appear if the virus destroys the host cell. The blisters dissappear without scaring ounce the fluid is absorbed and scabs form.

From the skin through branched of nerves, the virus is carried to the nerve cell end where they clusters. The virus than remains inactive, the virus does not multiply and both the virus and the host cell survive.

For some reason or another, the virus can start multiplying again and goes through a period which is known as shedding. When the virus becomes active again it can be contageous and unfortunately, most of the time when the virus start to become active, there is no symptom.

The symptom will then appear as a second on consecutive reccurence causing outbreaks which in general are less severe than the initial outbreak.

HSV 1 or 2 must get inside a certain body through broken skin or a mucous membrane. More often than not, the people infected with the HSV virus have reccuring outbreaks. This usually happens in the first instance through a stage called prodrome where early warning signs can be detected. Some of the warning signs can be itching skin, pain or a tingling sensation.

The stage of prodrome can last two hours or two days but usually stops when the blisters appears. 25% of the infections do not go beyond the stage of prodrome. If the infection passes this stage, than you have an outbreak. The outbreak takes place at the same site as the initial infection. Most outbreak last from six to ten days.

What causes the reccurence and outbreak is not really known. Several factors are thought to be involved including sunlight, wind, fever, injury, menstration, stress or suppression of the immune system. The interval in which the reccuring outbreak can manifest could be days, weeks or even years.

The body ounce you have had herpes produces an immune response the HSV virus which causes outbreak to be less severy. The body immune response almost does not irradicate the virus.