Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1), which is a sexually transmitted disease!
We know you have straightened up on your desk now and are staring at the sentence unbelievingly.
Types of herpes
HSV that causes cold sores also causes genital herpes and belongs to bigger family of viruses, called herpesviridae. According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), eight viruses from this family are known to the medical world. As per a report by NIH, they “commonly infect humans, and close to 100 percent of the adult population is infected with at least one.”
Among the eight, five types of herpes viruses are of major concern to the medical community. They are:
1. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1):
HSV 1 is also called Herpes labialis. It causes cold sores. It spreads chiefly through oral contact. However, as per a recent NIH report, doctors have documented increasing cases of genital herpes caused by this virus. Doctors believe this to be due to an increase in oral sex activities among people.
2. Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV 2):
HSV 2 is linked to blisters on the mucosal membrane of genitals. In rare cases, this virus is found to cause blisters in or around the mouth.
HSV 1 and HSV 2 testing in Arlington, VA, are available at the nearest STD clinic. You can walk in without an appointment any day of the week and request a discreet test.
3. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV):
People usually contract this virus in their childhood. The commonest way of spread is through bodily fluids. This virus strain causes infectious mononucleosis or mono.
4. Cytomegalovirus (CMV):
CMV is asymptomatic. According to medical reports, this infection is so common that around 50-80 per cent of American adults are infected by this virus atleast by the age of 40.
5. Varicella zoster virus (VZV):
This virus causes what is popularly known as shingles in adults and chickenpox in kids. In both conditions, the patient develops a highly itchy and/or painful rash on the body.
How to know what virus has infected you?
According to doctors, you cannot determine what type of herpes virus has infected a person through appearance of symptoms. The only way to determine is through a blood or serological testing. In case you have symptoms, the doctor, while conducting HSV 1 and HSV 2 testing in Arlington, VA, clinic would take a swab sample of the sore.
The American Sexual Health Association recommends taking a culture within 48 hours of the first outbreak of herpes. This gives the most accurate results. If you take a culture after this period, chances of getting a false negative are higher.
So, if you have a cold sore, instead of hopping into a store for a lip balm, please walk in your nearest STD clinic in Arlington for HSV 2 treatment.
