Herpes

Herpes is a viral disease that causes blisters to appear on the skin, particularly on the face or genitals, as well as on the mucous membranes. Herpes is a treatable disease, though there are many different forms of the disease. Herpes simplex virus types 1 & 2 are responsible for cold sores and genital herpes commonly associated with the disease. Type 1 involves the cold sores that form around the mouth, and Type 2 involves the sores of the genitals and buttocks; however, both types can cause herpes infections that affect the entire body. For this reason, it is important to properly diagnose which kind of herpes a person has contracted. A type specific test or culture swab can be conducted to determine proper treatment.