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About 90% of cases of herpes encephalitis are caused by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), the same virus that causes cold sores. According to a 2006 estimate, 57% of American adults were infected with HSV-1, [ 3 ] which is spread through droplets, casual contact and sometimes sexual contact, though most infected people never have cold sores.
Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common long-term complication of herpes zoster, and occurs in approximately 20% of patients with shingles. [2] Risk factors for PHN include older age, severe prodrome or rash, severe acute zoster pain, ophthalmic involvement, immunosuppression, and chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and lupus. [1]
Herpes meningitis is typically self-limiting over 2 weeks without treatment. However, empirical use of antiviral medications such as acyclovir are considered in cases of suspected HSV meningitis to prevent progression to the more rapid and fatal HSV meningoencephalitis. [7] HSV-2 is the most common herpes virus that causes meningitis. [3]
Common long term effects include: Permanent facial paralysis of some or all of the affected facial nerves; Corneal abrasion and/or ulcers if proper care is not taken of the affected eye which may affect long-term vision; Neuropathic pain and post-herpetic neuralgia can commonly persist for more than 3 months and a year to 18 months is not uncommon.
Herpes simplex, often known simply as herpes, is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. [5] Herpes infections are categorized by the area of the body that is infected. The two major types of herpes are oral herpes and genital herpes, though other forms also exist. Oral herpes involves the face or mouth.
The long-term use of antivirals may also decrease the risk of further spread. [1] In 2015, about 846 million people (12% of the world population) had genital herpes. [4] In the United States, more than one in six people between the ages of 14 and 49 have the disease. [8] Women are more commonly infected than men. [1]
The short- and long-term pain caused by shingles outbreaks originates from inflammation of affected nerves due to the widespread growth of the virus in those areas. [47] As with chickenpox and other forms of alpha-herpesvirus infection, direct contact with an active rash can spread the virus to a person who lacks immunity to it.
In this fashion, the virus can persist in the cell (and thus the host) indefinitely. While primary infection is often accompanied by a self-limited period of clinical illness, long-term latency is symptom-free. [citation needed] Chromatin dynamics regulate the transcription competency of entire herpes virus genomes.