Unistat : oral herpes
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/oral_herpes/article_em.htm
Oral Herpes Overview
Oral herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus.
The virus causes painful sores on your lips, gums, tongue, roof of
your mouth, and inside your cheeks. It also can cause symptoms such
as fever and muscle aches.
- The herpes simplex virus affects only humans. Mouth sores most
commonly occur in children aged 1-2 years, but they can
affect people at any age and any time of the year.
- People contract herpes by touching infected saliva, mucous
membranes, or skin. Because the virus is highly contagious, most
people have been infected by at least 1 herpes subtype before
adulthood.
- After the herpes virus infects you, it has a rather unique
ability to proceed to 3 stages.
- Primary infection: The virus enters your skin or mucous
membrane and reproduces. During this stage, oral sores and
other symptoms, such as fever, may develop.
- The virus may not cause any sores and symptoms. You
may not know that you have it. This is called
asymptomatic infection.
- Asymptomatic infection occurs twice as often as the disease with symptoms.
- The virus may not cause any sores and symptoms. You
may not know that you have it. This is called
asymptomatic infection.
- Latency: From the infected site, the virus moves to a mass
of nervous tissue in your spine called the dorsal root ganglion.
There the virus reproduces again and becomes inactive.
- Recurrence: When you encounter certain stresses, emotional or physical, the virus may reactivate and cause new sores and symptoms.
- Primary infection: The virus enters your skin or mucous
membrane and reproduces. During this stage, oral sores and
other symptoms, such as fever, may develop.