Letter H

Herpes

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A family of viruses.

Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesviruses, especially herpes simplex types 1 and 2. Herpes simplex type 1, also known as human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1), causes cold sores and fever blisters in the mouth and around it.

Here is a depiction of a typical fever blister on the lip caused by HHV-1:</P> NTER><IMG height=154 alt='Fever blister Illustration - Herpes' src='http://images.medicinenet.com/images/Feverblister.GIF' width=180></CENTER> Herpes simplex type 2, also known as human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1), causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Genital herpes is characterized by sores in the genital area.</P> Both herpes simplex types 1 and 2 are capable of causing systemic disease including encephalitis (infection of the brain) in someone who is immunodeficient.</P> The treatment of infection with herpes simplex infections is by topical or oral anti-viral medication.

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