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Paddy_Fo_Faddy t1_j6leghb wrote

Cold sores are herpes. Chicken pox is herpes. Shingles is herpes. #EVERYTHING IS HERPES!!!!

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FloatingSalamander t1_j6likbv wrote

Ok, but that's confusing for lay people. If anyone reads this comment and gets confused, all those viruses are in the herpes family. When we talk about herpes in everyday speak, we are only talking about herpes simplex 1 and 2. This is separate to the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles.

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Real_Project870 t1_j6lmp3e wrote

And even further, when people are referring to herpes as an STI they’re referring to herpes simplex 2 which is only spread via genitals and tends to affect genitals. Meanwhile, ~2/3 of the population carries herpes simplex 1, it’s just cold sores and can be treated effectively w oral/topical antivirals.

Herpes Zoster is chicken pox, but people don’t realize the virus never leaves your body, it just lays dormant. Decades go by until herpes zoster flares up and causes painful shingles. There’s a vaccine, everyone over age 50 should get it.

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BillyRay_Valentine t1_j6lwma3 wrote

I got pox late in life and man was it bad. I got those shots as soon as I could because I am not game for shingles at all!

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snkn179 t1_j6mh1fc wrote

To add more info, there's 5 main types of virus in the herpes family that you'll often come across.

HHV-1: Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), causes cold sores.

HHV-2: Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), causes genital herpes.

HHV-3: Varicella zoster virus (VZV), causes chickenpox and shingles.

HHV-4: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), causes mononucleosis (glandular fever) and various lymphoid diseases.

HHV-5: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), another cause of mononucleosis.

But yeah the everyday usage of the word herpes is just for the herpes simplexes (HSV-1 and HSV-2).

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FloatingSalamander t1_j6ngzq7 wrote

The only thing to add is that although hsv 2 tends to give genital sores and HSV 1 oral sores, they both can infect both places.

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nonotburton t1_j6lsyg2 wrote

You say this, but this was part of my high school biology class/sex Ed class. I'm from Louisiana, it's not like we've ever been much higher than Alabama or Mississippi in rankings.

If they're confused, it's because they weren't paying attention.

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Bugaloon t1_j6m5c4b wrote

I think most people only ever really refer to hsv2 as herpes, I've never heard hsv1 (cold sores) referred to as herpes, because it's a bit alarmist.

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pitshands t1_j6n6afw wrote

I grew up in Europe and if anyone referred (go e for a day or two) referred to Herpes it was HSV1. I don't see the point of it being alarmist. Edit wrote HPV first

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Bugaloon t1_j6otbfo wrote

Well genital herpes are drastically different from a cold sore... we're talking genital blisters vs a red spot smaller than most pimples.

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pitshands t1_j6oyyet wrote

First, I have seen HPV1 outbreaks that were huge and tbhnit looking that different from HPV2 if I can trust Google

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TheJunklest t1_j6lug5v wrote

Your grandma and your old dog, Blue. The pope has got it, and so do you.

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