Herpes Virus – Comparison Between HSV -1 & HSV -2

There are 2 kinds of herpes virus; they are the HSV-type 1 and HSV- type 2. These viruses are virtually identical in several ways, and each may cause oral or genital herpes. However, each of these viruses chooses to reside in different areas of the body, and they are following distinct behavior of recurrence. This is the reason why it’s helpful that you should learn which kind of virus you have in your body so that you will know as well what would be the appropriate method to be used in eliminating this certain type of virus. You can do this by asking your healthcare provider for a request that you wanted to undergo laboratory diagnosis for herpes. in this article we will present to you the two types of herpes virus and how they can infect you.

The Difference of HSV -1 from HSV- 2

HSV- type 1 ( cold sores ) – This type of herpes virus prefers to stay on the mouth. It can be acquired through direct contact, or exchanges of bodily fluids like kissing with the person infected by the disease. One manifestation of HSV type 1 is cold sores or blisters that can be found around or inside the lips. Even though the main location is the mouth, this virus can still be transmitted in the persons genitalia if he/she engages in oral together with the partner infected with this type of virus.

• Mode of transmission : Direct contact – oral sex, kissing, coughing, sneezing.
• Incubation period : 2 – 12 days (maximum)
• Contagious? : Yes
• Common location : mouth, lips, inner portion of the lips, gums, throat, inner cheeks, chin, neck, inner roof of the mouth, tongue.
• Appearance of blister : tiny, with reddish base appearance that become scabbed or crusted after a few days.

HSV- type 2 ( genital herpes ) – This herpes virus prefers to reside in the genitals of the infected person. The main symptom is also blisters, but it is situated on the genitals of the person. It may cause discharges or genital warts around the labia of the vagina, or near the shaft of the penis. Mode of transmission (how it spreads) is mainly through sexual intercourse. Just like HSV- type 1, this virus can be transmitted as well in the mouth if the person engages in oral sex with a partner infected with this kind of virus.

• Mode of transmission : oral sex, sexual intercourse
• Incubation period : 6 days  – 26 days (maximum)
• Contagious? : Yes
• Common location: genitals, buttocks, pubic area, thighs, upper legs, groin, anus.
• Appearance of blister: almost the same with the blisters found in HSV-1, after a few days that the blisters healed or dried, it gets crusted which brings it’s yellowish appearance.

These viruses belong to the same family of herpes virus. However, even though they share the same traits and cellular composition, there are a lot of ways that they are different from each other. That’s the reason why the way these viruses are treated differently as well. If you are experiencing any symptoms which you think resembles the symptoms of herpes, it is advised that you communicate with your physician, for you to undergo a test that will help confirm if what type of herpes virus had infected your body.