Rational Vaccines | About Herpes

What causes herpes infections?

The herpes simplex virus (HSV), commonly referred to as herpes, is categorized into two types: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 is the primary cause of oral herpes, but can also cause genital herpes. HSV-2 is the primary cause of genital herpes. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are lifelong.

What are the symptoms of herpes?

While some herpes infections are asymptomatic, a significant number of people experience a range of symptoms that vary in frequency and severity. Frequency varies from patient to patient, but symptoms are typically less severe after the first outbreak. The most common symptoms for both types of herpes are painful blisters or ulcers at the infection site. In addition, many patients experience debilitating neuralgia, skin splits, fissures, minor abrasions, erythema, fever, chills and myalgias.

Both viruses are most contagious during a symptomatic outbreak, but they can still be transmitted in the absence of symptoms. Beyond physical symptoms, herpes patients often suffer from social stigma and isolation because the infection is often transmitted sexually.

Neonatal herpes

Neonatal HSV is a potentially devastating herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or virus 2 (HSV-2), which can lead to serious health problems for the newborn. Although typically acquired at the time of delivery when the risk of transmission from an infected mother is high, as the infant is exposed to the herpes virus in the genital tract during delivery, it can also be transmitted post-delivery.

Up to 85% mortality rate in untreated infants with neonatal herpes¹

Infants exposed at birth can suffer from fatal organ damage, serious viral infections, sores, blindness, deafness and seizures²

In the U.S., 77% of pregnant women tested seropositive for HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 over the period 1989–2010³

Herpes and HIV

People with compromised immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV infection, are impacted by herpes in several ways.

HSV-1 symptoms can be more severe and recur more frequently for people with HIV⁴

HSV-2 fuels the HIV epidemic by increasing the risk of acquiring and transmitting a new HIV infection three-fold⁴

Herpes and ocular disease

Ocular HSV can cause disease in any layer of the eye and is mainly spread by contact. Ocular HSV is associated with a variety of eye diseases, including conjunctivitis, iridocyclitis, acute retinal necrosis and keratitis. Ocular herpes is considered the most common cause of corneal blindness in the U.S.⁷ Although HSV-1 is typically associated with ocular herpetic disease, HSV-2 has been shown to have implications.

HSV stromal keratitis, a serious viral infection of the cornea caused by HSV, is an important cause of infectious blindness in the developing world, mainly due to stromal opacification, and occurs more commonly during recurrences of infection. After an initial episode, the reoccurrence rate of ocular herpes is approximately

and the risk continues to increase with the number of occurrences. Proven triggers for recurrence include UV light, fever and refractive surgery.⁸

HSV keratitis is considered an important cause of infectious blindness worldwide⁹

1.5 million people worldwide are suffering with HSV keratitis¹⁰

An estimated 500,000 people in the U.S. have HSV ocular disease, with 50,000 new cases of severe monocular visual impairment or blindness diagnosed each year¹⁰

Herpes and Alzheimer’s

Strong evidence has emerged…that HSV-1 is a major risk for Alzheimer’s disease¹¹
Patients with HSV infections may have a 2.56-fold increased risk of developing dementia¹²
Our results are in agreement with and supports the findings that primary HSV-1 infection, in some individuals, may decades later lead to neural damage that promote or contribute to neurodegenerative disorders¹³
There may exist a window of opportunity for treating HSV-1 infections prior to the time they lead to irreversible damage to key cortical networks leading to development of cognitive deficits. Irreversible damage to key cortical networks could not be ameliorated by antiviral therapies¹³