- Genital herpes is caused by
either Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Types 1 or 2.
- HSV Type 1 - causes mainly
orofacial lesion and accounts for 10-15% of genital lesions (1).
- HSV Type 2 - accounts for 85%
of genital lesions (1).
- Infection with either type is
clinically indistinguishable but HSV Type 1 is less likely to cause
recurrent disease (2).
- Many cases of HSV infection
are asymptomatic but may be associated with viral shedding.
- It has been estimated that
20-30% of women in the reproductive age group have had HSV infection (1).
- Scott LL, Hollier LM, Dias K.
Perinatal herpesvirus infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am
1997;11(1):27-53.
- Smith JR, Cowan FM, Munday P.
Pregnancy subgroup of Herpes Simplex Advisory Panel. The management of
herpes simplex virus infection in pregnancy. Br J Obstet Gynecol
1998;105:255-260.