Herpes Virus Family Facts

To most people the word "herpes" conjures up an image of genital herpes, the incurable virus that is transmitted
through sexual contact and causes blisters on the genitals. However herpes is in fact a family of viruses that is
extremely widespread and can cause a number of conditions affecting the skin, mouth, eyes, brain or, in rare cases, the whole body.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 6 people may carry some form of the herpes virus in their body, either active or inactive.
Forms of the herpes virus include herpes simplex type 1 (cold sores), herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), cytomegalovirus (mild hepatitis), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and herpes-zoster (shingles). All of these conditions are caused by viruses in the herpes family.
Two similar conditions, herpes gestationis and dermatitis herpetiformis, both produce herpes-like blisters on the skin but are not related to or caused by any of the various herpes viruses.
The many diseases that are caused by the herpes virus may differ widely from one another, but they all share
a few common traits: