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Herpes

How does someone get herpes?

Herpes is spread by touching, kissing and sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. It can be passed from one person to another, or from one part of the body to another, whether or not there are blisters present.Herpes is most contagious just before blisters form, when the skin over the infected area may be itchy or tingly (often called the “prodromal period”), and when active sores or healing lesions are present.. The virus is contagious until the skin is normal again, usually when the blisters or sores heal and the scabs fall off.

Herpes is potentially contagious when no symptoms are present. That is, a person who has genital herpes may potentially always be shedding active virus.

Some people do not get typical blister-like sores but harbor active virus in their saliva, vaginal, or penile secretions, and can shed the virus without knowing they have herpes.

Lesions can occur deep inside the vagina where they cannot be seen or felt, but can readily transmit the virus. It is also important to remember that oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. The symptoms of both are similar, and HSV-1 is generally a milder infection than HSV-2. Areas most easily infected include:

• the mouth
• the vagina
• the vulva
• the penis
• the anus
• the eyes
• any skin that is cut, chafed, burned, or has a rash or other sores

There is also a serious risk to newborn babies if active herpes lesions are present during childbirth. Most babies born to women with herpes are delivered by Caesarian section to avoid the risk of infecting the baby.

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