Causes of Herpes

Herpes as a symptom:

Conditions listing Herpes as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Herpes. Our database lists the following as having Herpes as a symptom of that condition:

• AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections

Medications or substances causing Herpes:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Herpes as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Tacrolimus
• Prograf
• Sibutramine
• Meridia
• Pimecrolimus
• more drugs...»

See full list of 17 medications causing Herpes

Medical news summaries relating to Herpes:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Herpes:

• Herpes virus found in almost all healthy individuals
• Neonatal herpes proposed tracking
• Teen sex issues
• More news »

Related information on causes of Herpes:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Herpes may be found in:

• Risk factors for Herpes
• Medications that may cause Herpes
• Contagiousness for Herpes
• Hidden causes of Herpes

Causes of Herpes: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Herpes.

Herpes simplex: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

About 85% of all HVH infections are subclinical; the others produce localized lesions and systemic reactions. After the first infection, a patient is a carrier susceptible to recurrent infections, which may be provoked by fever, menses, stress, heat, and cold. However, the patient usually has no constitutional signs and symptoms in recurrent infections.

Primary HVH is the leading cause of childhood gingivostomatitis in children ages 1 to 3. It causes the most common form of nonepidemic encephalitis and is the second most common viral infection in pregnant women. It can pass to the fetus transplacentally and, in early pregnancy, may cause spontaneous abortion or premature birth.

Herpes infection is equally common in males and females. Worldwide in distribution, it's most prevalent among children in lower socioeconomic groups who live in crowded environments. Saliva, stool, skin lesions, purulent eye exudate, and urine are potential sources of infection.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Herpes zoster: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Herpes zoster results from reactivation of varicella virus that has lain dormant in the cerebral ganglia (extramedullary ganglia of the cranial nerves) or the ganglia of posterior nerve roots since a previous episode of chickenpox. Exactly how or why this reactivation occurs isn’t clear. Some believe that the virus multiplies as it's reactivated and that antibodies remaining from the initial infection neutralize it. However, if effective antibodies aren't present, the virus continues to multiply in the ganglia, destroy the host neuron, and spread down the sensory nerves to the skin.

Herpes zoster occurs primarily in adults, especially those older than age 50. It seldom recurs. It's also seen in patients with human immunodeficiency virus and other immunodeficiency disorders.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Genital herpes: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Genital herpes is usually caused by infection with herpes simplex virus Type 2, but some studies report increasing incidence of infection with herpes simplex virus Type 1. This disease is typically transmitted through sexual intercourse, orogenital sexual activity, kissing, and hand-to-body contact. Pregnant women may transmit the infection to neonates during vaginal delivery if an active infection is present. Such transmitted infection may be localized (for instance, in the eyes) or disseminated and may be associated with central nervous system involvement.

An estimated 86 million people worldwide are thought to have genital herpes.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Herpes simplex: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Herpes simplex is caused by Herpes-virus hominis (HVH), a widespread infectious agent. Type 1 herpes, which is transmitted by oral and respiratory secretions, affects the skin and mucous membranes and commonly produces cold sores and fever blisters.

Type 2 herpes primarily affects the genital area and is transmitted by sexual contact. Cross-infection may result from orogenital sex.

Incidence

Primary HVH is the leading cause of gingivostomatitis in children ages 1 to 3. It causes the most common nonepidemic encephalitis and is the second most common viral infection in pregnant women. It can pass to the fetus transplacentally and, in early pregnancy, may cause spontaneous abortion or premature birth.

Herpes is equally common in males and females. It occurs worldwide and is most prevalent among children in lower socioeconomic groups who live in crowded environments. Saliva, stool, urine, skin lesions, and purulent eye exudate are potential sources of infection.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Herpes zoster: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Herpes zoster results from reactivation of varicella virus that has lain dormant in the cerebral ganglia (extramedullary ganglia of the cranial nerves) or the ganglia of posterior nerve roots since a previous episode of chickenpox.

Exactly how or why this reactivation occurs isn’t clear. Some believe that the virus multiplies as it’s reactivated and that it’s neutralized by antibodies remaining from the initial infection. However, if effective antibodies aren’t present, the virus continues to multiply in the ganglia, destroy the host neuron, and spread down the sensory nerves to the skin.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Herpes Simplex Virus: Herpes Simplex Virus - pathophysiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)

• Initial viral replication occurs at the portal of entry.
• Vesicular fluid contains infected epithelial cells.
• After primary HSV infection, the virus remains latent in sensory neural ganglia innervating portions of the skin or mucous membranes originally involved. The virus can be reactivated by an appropriate stimulus such as sunlight or immune suppression.
• HSV can be replicated easily in the laboratory in tissue cultures.

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Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008