Herpes

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is the reactivation of the chicken pox virus that can lead to pain and a rash. Zoster has been studied for centuries by many physicians and scientists dating back to...

The body produces immunoglobulins, or antibodies, to defend itself against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. There are five classes of antibodies, one of which is IgG. Foreign...

Herpes is a family of viruses that causes blisters and other skin lesions throughout the body. Herpes is generally classified in two categories, with the first type affecting the upper body and...

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can occur in both females and males. When the virus is active, small red blisters will appear on the genitalia. It's important to get tested...

One of the most common type of viral infections is the herpes virus. The word “herpes” might have ominous connotations for you, yet most Americans actually carry the virus that causes...

Shingles is a puzzling, painful viral infection that is related to chicken pox. It is also called "herpes zoster." A "zoster" was a belt worn in ancient times by Greek men. The shingles rash,...

Herpes is a viral infection that typically causes painful sores and blisters and can include recurring attacks. The herpes simplex virus commonly affects the mucus membranes and causes painful...

Herpes is a virus that invades the body and stays put--you can never get rid of the virus, but you can treat it and reduce the amount of flare-ups of the virus that many people experience. Herpes...

If you're one of 50 to 80 percent of adults in the U.S. infected with the herpes simplex 1 virus (HSV-1), you've most likely had at least one cold sore--a water blister or cluster of blisters that...

Shingles is the common name for herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is not caused by the herpes simplex virus but by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which also causes chickenpox. Herpes simplex virus...

Shingles is a neurological disease that, primarily, affects the skin. Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chicken pox. After a person recovers from...

The body needs lysine (or L-lysine) to function. It's an essential amino acid, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. But the body doesn't make lysine, so you have to get it from...

Shingles, formally known as herpes zoster, is a reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus. In individuals who have contracted chickenpox, the zoster virus lies dormant in the nerves for decades...

Fever blisters are painful lesions, which develop on the lips, inside the nose, or on the skin around these areas, including the chin or cheeks. Fever blisters, also called cold sores, are caused...

Herpes simplex is an incurable viral infection that is often sexually transmitted, but can also spread through direct contact with the cold sores characteristic of the disease. Ribavirin is a...

Valtrex is the brand name for the drug valciclovir. It is an antiviral medication, meaning that it is used to treat viral infections, specifically the herpes virus. According to the Valtrex...

Shingles is a painful rash, caused by the Herpes zoster virus. A shingles rash can occur anywhere on the body and may result in very serious complications. While antiviral medications lessen the...

Herpes simplex is a virus that affects people of all ages. Dr. Swetha G. Pinninti, in her article, "Herpes Simplex Virus Infection," reports that "one-third of children from lower socioeconomic...

There are many strains of herpes virus, only eight of which infect humans. According to the American Social Health Association, up to 80 percent of the US adult population is infected with the...

Valtrex is the brand name for the drug valacyclovir. It is similar to Acyclovir and Famvir. These medications are used to treat the broad spectrum of herpes viruses that affect human beings. They...

Herpes simplex is a virus that causes oral herpes and genital herpes infections. Patients may undergo blood tests to find IgM antibodies in a patient's bloodstream that the body uses to fight a...

Herpes outbreaks are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or the Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Outbreaks can occur all over a person's body but are most common on the lips,...

Herpes is a disease caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Herpes Simplex 2. Both of these viruses are highly contagious and both cause an array of infections: genital herpes, cold sores,...

Canker sores (or cold sores) are the result of the herpes simplex virus, which affects the nerve roots. When the immune system is weakened, it can't suppress the virus and the sores appear. Sores...

Shingles (herpes zoster), is a condition with a painful rash caused by a recurrence of the chickenpox virus. A large number of different medications are used in the management of pain caused by...

Chicken pox and shingles share the same cause, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Additionally, the two conditions cause similar symptoms and can be treated with the same group of antiviral...

Herpes zoster, or shingles, can be contagious to people who have not had chicken pox. Until shingles vesicles are crusted over, the virus can be spread to others. During infection, herpes zoster...

To understand why cold sores may develop blisters, one has to understand where it is they come from and what causes the condition. Cold sores (also called fever blisters) are actually the result...

Fever blisters are small sores located on the face or in the mouth, according to MedicineNet. Usually, they occur on the lips, chin, cheeks and inside the nose. Fever blisters hurt, burn or itch...

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease characterized by blisters and sores around the genitals or rectum. The disease is caused by the HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses. Sores and blisters can be...

If you have a sore on the side of your lip, there's a good chance it's due to the very common herpes simplex virus. Before treating any new sores, be sure to get a diagnosis from your doctor. Cold...

Cold sores appear overnight, seemingly at random. What you eat can sometimes trigger outbreaks--and luckily, what you eat can also speed up the duration of the outbreak. While there's no immediate...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40 million Americans have had genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2...

Human herpesvirus 2---or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)---is the virus that is largely responsible for genital herpes infection. It is one of two herpes simplex viruses, and is closely related to...

Shingles causes pain and a rash along the path of the nerve affected by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Different treatments are used to manage the effects of this condition.

Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, are caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus (HSV-1). Many people are affected by cold sores and experience several outbreaks a year. HSV-1 is often "caught"...

Cold sores are blisters that can appear anywhere on the body but are especially characterized by the open sores at the side of the mouth, which may ooze fluid. A cold sore is a symptom of the...

Herpes is a common type of virus that comes in several variations, causing well-known conditions including genital herpes, shingles and cold sores. The types that most often causes cold sores is...

Controlling the pain associated with shingles, a recurrence of VZV (varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox), is a combination of targeting the virus with antivirals as well as...