Herpes is a viral disease that is transmitted through intimate contact with a carrier of the virus. There are several different strains of Herpes which cause different ailments, including oral herpes (also known as fever blisters or cold sores), genital herpes, chickenpox, and shingles.

Herpes viruses cycle between periods of outbreaks and latency. During an outbreak, the virus appears as sores or blisters. These blisters contain viral particles which are contagious. Most outbreaks of herpes last from two days to three weeks.

During the latent phase, the herpes virus does not present any symptoms. However, the viral particles remain dormant in your nerve cells, where they may trigger future outbreaks. Outbreaks may be triggered by illness, physical trauma, emotional stress, fatigue, certain foods, or sun exposure.

Some people experience several outbreaks per year, while others experience only one or two during their lifetime. The average number of outbreaks is approximately five per year.

If you suspect that you may have herpes, visit your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Typically, oral herpes is diagnosed visually, while the diagnosis of genital herpes generally requires laboratory testing. Your doctor may give you antiviral medications, which can reduce the frequency of outbreaks as well as the risk of transmission.