Cause and history
"Herpes" comes from the Greek for "to creep," used since Hippocrates for spreading skin blisters. In 1919 Löwenstein showed blister fluid transmitted infection, and the virus was later split into HSV-1, mainly oral, and HSV-2, mainly genital. WHO estimates about two-thirds of people under 50 carry HSV-1. Reactivation of the related chickenpox virus causes shingles.
Symptoms and recurrence
Tingling or burning precedes a cluster of small blisters that burst and crust, usually healing in 7–10 days. After first infection the virus hides in nerve ganglia for life, reawakening with fatigue, stress, strong sunlight, colds or menstruation. Aphthous mouth ulcers inside the mouth are a different condition.
Treatment and prevention
In 1977 Gertrude Elion's team developed acyclovir, which acts only in infected cells; Elion shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Starting antivirals early shortens outbreaks. Avoid kissing and sharing cups or towels during outbreaks, and take special care around newborns and immunocompromised people.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
FAQ
- Can herpes simplex be cured?
- No drug yet removes the virus, but antivirals reduce symptoms and recurrences.
- Can it spread without blisters?
- Yes—asymptomatic shedding can occasionally transmit it.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Whitley, R. J., & Roizman, B. (2001). Herpes simplex virus infections. The Lancet, 357(9267), 1513–1518.
- World Health Organization. (2024). Herpes simplex virus (Fact sheet).
- Elion, G. B. (1988). The purine path to chemotherapy. Nobel Lecture.