herpesviruses
Cold sore culprits
Herpesviruses are a family of DNA viruses that cause infections in humans and animals.
The group includes herpes simplex (causing cold sores and genital herpes), varicella-zoster (chickenpox and shingles), Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis), and cytomegalovirus.
A defining feature is latency—after initial infection, herpesviruses remain dormant in the body and can reactivate later: The virus stays in your nerve cells forever.
Medicines that inhibit viruses
- acyclovirAntiviral herpes medication
- valacyclovirAntiviral prodrug medication
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
- topicalCurrently relevant or newsworthy
Areas of damaged tissue
- blistersRaised fluid-filled skin
- cold soresHerpes simplex lesions
- shinglesOverlapping roof cladding
- chickenpoxContagious blistering viral infection
mononucleosis · encephalitis · keratitis · esophagitis · retinitis · pneumonitis · hepatitis · Bell's palsy
Transmissible between people
- transmissionSending of information
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- viral sheddingRelease of replicating virus
- sheddingLosing outer covering
asymptomatic · latent · reactivation · recurrence · primary infection · dormant · reservoir · contact
Herpes simplex type one
- envelopedFully enclosed around
- tegumentNatural outer covering
- glycoproteinProtein bonded to carbohydrates
antivirals
Medicines that inhibit viruses
- acyclovirAntiviral herpes medication
- valacyclovirAntiviral prodrug medication
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
topical · oral · intravenous · resistance · vaccine research
lesions
Areas of damaged tissue
- blistersRaised fluid-filled skin
- cold soresHerpes simplex lesions
- shinglesOverlapping roof cladding
chickenpox · mononucleosis · encephalitis · keratitis · esophagitis · retinitis · pneumonitis · hepatitis · Bell's palsy · lymphoma
contagious
Transmissible between people
- transmissionSending of information
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- viral sheddingRelease of replicating virus
shedding · asymptomatic · latent · reactivation · recurrence · primary infection · dormant · reservoir · contact · saliva
HSV-1
Herpes simplex type one
- envelopedFully enclosed around
- tegumentNatural outer covering
- glycoproteinProtein bonded to carbohydrates
zoonotic
Disease from animals
- Animal Virusesrabies, parvovirus, parvo, distemper, canine distemper
- Virus Families
herpesvirusesrhinoviruses
Microbes causing common colds
norovirus · rotavirus · adenoviruses · enteroviruses · influenza virus