Herpes is a virus - specifically the "herpes virus hominus". Simplex is a sub-category of that family. Simplex falls into four main categories, types 1, 2, 6, and 8. Generally, type I infects the mouth in humans and type II affects the genital area, but there is a substantial overlap. Type 6 causes an infection during infancy and Type 8 has been associated with Kaposi's Sarcoma which is seen in HIV.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has a vast presence in humans. It has been estimated that 90% of humans experience oral herpes infections by the age of ten years old, an acute episode manifesting as infected gums and lips, causing high fevers. A substantial portion of the population has recurrent oral herpes infection, showing up as "cold sores" on lips and on the sides of the mouth, and sometimes elsewhere on the face.

Herpes infects the nerve cells of the spinal cord of the pelvis (in the setting of genital herpes) and of the nerve ganglia serving the face at the base of the brain (in the setting of oral herpes). Herpes is a DNA-type virus, inserting its DNA directly into the nucleus of the nerve cell. Once the viral information is inserted into the cells' nuclei, this blending of viral genetic information with human genetic information is permanent. The nerve cell then becomes a factory for making more of the herpes virus.

Medical people often speak of genital herpes as Simplex Two infections - HSV II. However, people can have either virus in either place. Someone with an HSV I lesion on the mouth can transmit the infection to a significant other through oro-genital contact with the genitalia of the other, causing a recurrent Herpes Simplex I lesion on the genitalia of the other. Also, other sites of Herpes Simplex infection can be produced, such as on a finger or elsewhere on the body. - see herpes pictures.

NOTE: PEOPLE WHO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF HERPES INFECTIONS EITHER ON THE FACE OR ON THE GENITALIA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ALLOWING THESE AREAS TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER DURING INTIMATE CONTACT.

Genital Herpes affects about 20-25% of Americans, numbers exceeding 50 million Americans. It remains one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the world in absolute numbers of people.

Generally genital herpes is not considered to be extremely contagious. Casual contact on toilet seats, chairs, and similar sorts of workplace contact is almost certainly non-contagious, though debate exists on these issues.

However, herpes is contagious. The method of transmission is usually through an active herpes blister with a broken area of skin. A male with an open blister could transmit the virus into the vagina of a female through a tiny abrasion in the mucosa of the female that would occur during intercourse. Similar modes of transmission can occur from female to male, male to male, and even female to female. Oral transmission of either type of virus can happen as well. The virus may be transmitted to the penis, the vagina, the rectum, the mouth, the esophagus, the trachea, and even onto broken areas of skin elsewhere on the body. The New England Journal of Medicine published a photograph of a herpes infection deep down inside the esophagus of a woman in April, 1999. Even herpes simplex pneumonias have been reported. And, of course, the saddest Herpes simplex infection is of the brain in newborn babies who acquire the infection during delivery - neonatl herpes. In this case, the outcomes are very sad and are well known medical disasters. - read more pregnancy and herpes. Herpes simplex may also cause wide-spread rashes on the body with redness and swelling in these areas, which is called herpes zoster or shingles.

Again, once the viral DNA has been transmitted to the receiving person's nerve cells, the infection is permanent.

Viruses are tiny, far smaller than bacteria and far smaller than the cells of the human body. Viruses are so small that they can even slip through the tiny cellular holes of the "lamb-skin" type of condom which are normally small enough to prevent sperm cells from getting through. Latex-type condoms are probably protective against viral particles getting through, provided the condom covers the affected area completely during the sex act. Viral particles from an active lesion can become liquid borne from inside the condom and could possibly leak out at the base of the condom.

Herpes infections produce a number of different signs and symptoms. Traditional "first episode" herpes, most commonly described in women, are more serious and can cause one to have a high fever, large-sized outbreaks, and sometimes even the inability to urinate. Hospitalization is sometimes necessary, with urinary bladder catheterization, IV fluids, and intravenous anti-viral medications being required. However, most people who have genital herpes don't require such treatment - i.e. hospitalization.

DURING THE BLISTER AND ULCER PHASE, THE HERPES LESION CONTAINS AND LEAKS OUT BILLIONS OF VIRAL PARTICLES AND IS CONTAGIOUS TO ANY AREA OF BROKEN SKIN OR WET MUCOSA, INCLUDING THE EYE, THE MOUTH, THE ESOPHAGUS, THE TRACHEA, THE LUNGS, THE ANUS, THE URETHRA, AND THE VAGINA.

Herpes infections are often quite subtle. Sometimes the skin will just be slightly reddened without obvious lesions. This area is probably contagious, though probably much less so than blistered areas. Sometimes the skin will form tiny red bumps that don't blister, called "erythematous papules". Sometimes there are even no signs on the skin at all. However, many people with genital herpes produce the virus even when they have no symptoms -- This term is called "asymptomatic shedding".