What Is Herpes Simplex?
Herpes Simplex is a virus that infects the skin, mucous membranes and nerves. There are two major types of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Type I is the most common and is responsible for eye disease and the familiar cold sore or fever blister. Type II is responsible for sexually transmitted herpes and rarely causes infection above the waist. An original infection with herpes simplex type I (HSV type I) occurs in 90 percent of the population, usually during childhood or adolescence. The infection, sometimes only a mild sore mouth or throat, comes from close personal contact with and infected person and usually passes without notice. After the original infection the virus goes into a quiet or dormant period, living in nerve cells that supply the skin or the eye. Occasionally the virus reactivates and causes a recurrent cold sore or fever blister.
