Herpes is a name that is used to describe several types of skin eruptions that are characterized by formation of blisters. The term embraces primarily two distinct disorders, herpes simplex and herpes zoster, both caused by viruses. Together, these "herpes" viruses are estimated to cause more human illnesses than any other group of viruses. Two types of herpes simplex are known. The first causes cold sores or fever blisters, which is an eruption of blisters that often occurs during the course of or after one of a variety of diseases that eventually cause fever (most commonly average colds, the flu, and pneumonia). The blisters usually appear around the mouth and on the lips (herpes labialis), about the nose, face, and ears, and in the mouth and pharynx. The causative virus has been shown to be present in the cell bodies of the facial nerve in persons who do not have blisters. It is this reservoir of latent virus that is the source of repeated attacks. Except for lotions to relieve pain, itching, or inflammation, no established treatmemt has actually been developed. The second type of the herpes simplex virus, however, is the usual cause of genital herpes. Herpes infections of the genital area have become increasingly "Herpes,"page 2 common, going along with a rise in general of many sexually transmitted diseases. Sometimes accompanied by headache and fever, the condition usually begins with a mild itching, followed by the development of clusters of blisters that break and crust to form scabs that eventually dry up. The process may last one to three weeks. In many cases new clusters of blisters appear as others heal. Whe...
