Herpes is caused by viruses of the same name and is a very contagious infection. There are eight types of these viruses that can affect the human body, while in adulthood, the following major diseases are possible:
- simple herpes of the first type ("cold on the lips");
- herpes simplex of the second type (anogenital herpes);
- Herpes zoster (chicken pox, shingles);
- infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus);
- cytomegalovirus infection.
A feature of herpesviruses is that they all have the property of permanently being in the body of a person with a single infection and can become more active with a decrease in immunity.
Symptoms of the herpes virus
Depending on the type of herpes and the form of infection, the symptoms vary. Let's consider what are the main manifestations in different types of pathologies caused by herpesviruses.
Herpes simplex of the first type
Most often it causes lesions on the lips, which at first looks like a slight reddening, and soon turns into a bubble with transparent contents. Eruptions are accompanied by burning and itching. In other cases, such rashes caused by this type of virus appear in the nostrils, near-lips, eyelids, fingers, genitals.
Herpes simplex of the second type
The virus is characterized by symptoms such as a rash on the inner thighs, external genitals or buttocks, accompanied by itching and soreness, swelling and redness. Often there is also an increase in body temperature, an increase in inguinal lymph nodes.
Chickenpox
The disease is characterized by a rash in the form of pink spots, rapidly turning into papules and vesicles. The rash appears on all parts of the body, on the skin and mucous membranes. The first symptom of this type of herpes, preceding the rash, is a sharp increase in body temperature .
Shingles
The ailment is also characterized by skin eruptions in the form of erythematous papules rapidly transforming into vesicles with contents, but these rashes are always located along the course of the infected nerve trunks. There is severe pain, burning, itching, fever.
Infectious mononucleosis
The disease is accompanied by a feverish condition, reddening and swelling of the mouth and nasopharynx, sore throat, difficulty in nasal breathing, enlarged lymph nodes (especially on the neck), enlarged liver and spleen , headache.
Cytomegalovirus infection
This type of virus can affect various organs, so its symptoms are very diverse: fever, headache, sore throat, lymph glands, abdominal pain, cough, blurred vision, etc.