Synonyms in a broader sense
Herpes simplex, herpes simplex virus, cold sores, lip herpes, viral encephalitis, herpes simplex encephalitis
Primary infectionFirst infection
Most infected people often do not notice anything (90%) from the initial infection. They show a so-called asymptomatic course. Only about 10% of those affected show the typical symptoms.
This primary infection usually occurs on damaged skin and mucous membrane. Penetration into healthy skin is rare. The viruses enter the skin by droplet or contact infection.
The fact that the viruses now multiply results in the formation of blisters and local inflammation. An initial infection with HSV 1 leads to so-called gingivostomatitis herpetica. This is a painful reddening of the oral mucosa and throat.
It usually occurs in small children between the ages of 1 and 4 years. It is always accompanied by high fever. Spontaneous healing occurs after 2 weeks.
An initial infection with HSV 2 leads to the clinical picture of genital herpes in adolescents and adults. Risks for acquiring this disease are a large number of sexual partners or i. v. drug abuse. In women, vuvlvovaginitis herpetica occurs, which is the same as gingivostomatitis herpetica, only on the female genitals (labia and vagina are affected).
In men, vesicles form preferably at the tip of the penis. In newborns, the birth process can lead to the so-called conatal HSV 2 infection. This is a severe clinical picture with a mortality rate of 30%. Prevention can be achieved by a caesarean section, because the infection with the viruses occurs in the birth canal.
Endogenous reactivation
After the primary infection/first infection, the herpes virus dwells in the regional nerve ganglia (cell bodies of the nerves). HSV 1 dwells in the trigeminal ganglia (see above), HSV 2 dwells in the lumbar ganglia. Ganglions are switching points for sensitive nerves (sensory nerves).
They remain there for the rest of their lives. The affected person either remains an asymptomatic virus carrier or reactivates. The reactivation of the herpes viruses and thus a new outbreak of the disease is caused by exogenous (external) factors such as Now viruses are formed again and these then migrate in the opposite direction again along the sensitive nerves into the skin.
The number of repeated outbreaks decreases over the years. About one third of all infected people suffer from recurrent oral cold sores.
- Infections
- Fever, sun exposureUV- light
- Injuries
- Hormonal changes (e.g. menstruation)
- Mental stressStress
- Immunodeficiency
