Viral Infections

"Genital herpes is a contagious infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two different strains, or types, of HSV: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Both can cause genital herpes, although most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2. When symptomatic, HSV-1 usually appears as fever blisters or cold sores on the lips, but it can also infect the genital region through oral-genital or genital-genital contact. Symptomatic HSV-2 typically causes painful, watery skin blisters on or around the genitals or anus. However, substantial numbers of people who carry these viruses have no or only minimal signs or symptoms. Neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 can be cured, and even when an infected person has no symptoms, the virus can be found in the body’s nerve cells. Periodically, some people will experience outbreaks in which new blisters form on the skin in the genital area; at those times, the virus is more likely to be passed on to other people. Pregnant women, especially those who acquire genital herpes for the first time during pregnancy, may pass the infection to their newborns, causing life-threatening neonatal HSV. HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV destroys the body’s immune system by killing the blood cells that fight infection. When the CD4 count drops below 200 due to advanced HIV disease, a person is diagnosed with AIDS. People whose HIV has progressed to AIDS are very susceptible to opportunistic infections and certain forms of cancer. AIDS can be prevented by early initiation of antiretroviral therapy in those with HIV infection. Transmission primarily occurs during unprotected sexual activity and by sharing needles used to inject intravenous drugs, although the virus also can spread from mother to infant during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. HPV is the most common STD/STI. More than 40 HPV types exist, and all of them can infect both men and women. HPV types vary in their ability to cause genital warts; infect other regions of the body, including the mouth and throat; and cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, penis, and mouth. Although no cure exists for HPV infection once it occurs, regular screening with a Pap smear test can prevent or detect at an early stage most cases of HPV-caused cervical cancer. A vaccine protects against most, but not all, HPV types that cause cervical cancer."