A 38-year-old member asked:
Please explain what does the herpes virus do and can it be fatal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Stephen Scholandanswered
Infectious Disease 25 years experience
Herpes virus: Herpes is a nasty virus that after a primary infection (cold sores or genital sores) will 'hide' in the nerve roots forevermore. It may come out again -particularly at times of stress or other disease/illness. These are 'outbreaks'. Extremely rarely, the cold sore virus (HSV-1) might go backwards into the brain, rather than forward to the lips/mouth -and in that RARE case it can be quite dangerous
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Related questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
How bad to the body is the herpes virus?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Usually not serious: Usually not serious at all -- for most people it becomes an inconvenience more than a serious health problem. The biggest problem for many is stigma a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
73 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: herpes virus?
Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 51 years experience
Herperviridae: Viruses from the family herperviridae. At least seven species of herpesvirus are known to be infectious to man: herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, varice... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Is your herpes less contagious because your virus sheds less, the longer you have had it. Is this true?
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
NO !!: If you have open active lesions you are highly infective by direct contact with individuals who have never previously encountered the virus.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Can bleach kills the herpes virus?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Yes: Bleach, all disinfectants, and even soap instantaneously kill all herpes viruses. (That doesn't mean you should use any of them to try to treat a herp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Are warts caused by the herpes virus?
Dr. Ron Jonesanswered
Family Medicine 47 years experience
No: Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus family.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Nov 23, 2014
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