Human herpes virus is of eight types of which the two types are Herpes simplex virus 1 (HHV 1) & Herpes simplex virus 2 (HHV 2)

Herpes labialis or cold sores involving the lips, and gingivostomatitis or the inflammation of the gums and oral cavity, oropharyngeal, cutaneous, and ocular lesions in the form of keratoconjunctivitis are produced by the (HSV-1) while (HSV-2) is known to cause genital herpes.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) in Males and Females.
In males, balanoposthitis or inflammation of the glans penis is common whereas in females, vulvovaginitis is seen. However, each of viral types is capable of producing any of the manifestations.
Effects of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1).
HSV-1 mostly remains dormant within the trigeminal ganglion and has an affinity for the mucocutaneous junctions. Any drop in the immunity of the individual leads to recurrent herpes labialis. The eyes may get infected in the form of herpetic keratoconjunctivitis and the nailbed can get affected as herpetic whitlow.
Effects of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV 2)
The HSV-2 herpes virus is more virulent and tends to remain dormant in the sacral ganglia. It can also produce aseptic meningitis and neuralgias along the genitocrural, sciatic and obturator nerves due to radiculomyelopathy. The pain radiates from the hip downwards and forwards to the upper thighs and groins. In very severe cases and in immunocompromised individuals, the infection can produce encephalitis or hepatitis and eventually the patient can succumb to these pathologies.

Other Effects of Herpes Simplex Virus
This virus has been linked to cervical cancers too. In people indulging in anal sex, the anorectal region is also involved. The virus can be transmitted to the infant during delivery if the mother is having outbreaks at that time. Hence, in such cases, the caesarian section is usually adopted to prevent the spread of the infection from the mother to her baby. Herpes genital (HG) is a very common cause of genital ulceration.
The vesicles [fluid filled eruptions] are inside the epidermis of the skin. Reticular degeneration of the epidermal cells with acantholysis can be seen on histopathological examination. The herpes viruses are known to produce cellular changes that cause infiltration of typical multinucleate giant cells within the lesions.

Signs and symptoms of herpes simplex virus
Primary genital herpes (PGH)
The first attack of herpes genitalis is pretty violent, following which the virus remains dormant within the neuronal cells of the dorsal root ganglion and then gives rise to recurrent lesions but milder in intensity as compared to the primary attack.

Primary genital herpes or PGH infection may have an incubation period of upto a fortnight after exposure to the virus through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner. The manifestations are usually symptoms such as painful, itching, or burning vesicular i.e. fluid filled eruptions which may coalesce and then break open to form circumscribed ulcers. There may be concomitant fever with headache, malaise, lymphadenopathy, and dysuria. Remisssion takes place within a month and the lesions subside.

Recurrent genital herpes (RGH)
In the case of Recurrent genital herpes or RGH, constitutional signs and symptoms are seldom seen and the intensity and duration of progress is lesser than the primary attack. The vesicular eruptions are usually preceded by burning or tingling in the affected areas; however, the area involved is again lesser as compared to the primary lesions. On an average, a person can have outbreaks almost every two months but the remission time is about a week. The factors that tend to trigger the relapses are found to be stress, exertion, heat, hormonal fluctuations, other infections which tend to drop the immunity, etc.
In our next article we are going to throw some light on the remedies and treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus.