Herpes Pictures

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Genital Herpes Picture

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Genital Herpes Pictures

Please note: The genital herpes pictures you are about to view show actual cases of genital herpes.

Herpes Pictures

These Herpes Pictures are graphic in nature and may not be appropriate for general viewing.

Pictures of Genital herpes pictures are intended for use as general medical information.

Please see your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

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The Herpesviridae are a family of DNA viruses causing diseases in humans and animals.

There are eight types of viruses, in this family, known to cause disease in humans. These viruses are (HHV stands for human herpes viruses):

HHV-1 = HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1): causes cold sores/genital herpes

HHV-2 = HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2): causes cold sores/genital herpes

HHV-3 = VZV (varicella-zoster virus): causes chickenpox and shingles

HHV-4 = EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), lymphocryptovirus: causes infectious mononucleosis,

HHV-5 = CMV (cytomegalovirus): causes mononucleosis, retinitis, etc.

HHV-6 = roseolovirus: causes "sixth disease" (roseola infantum, exanthem subitum)

HHV-7 = closely related to HHV-6; causes roughly the same symptoms

HHV-8 = rhadinovirus = KSHV = Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus

The human herpes viruses all share some common properties. One shared property is virus structure. 

All herpes viruses are composed of relatively large, double-stranded, circular DNA genomes, encoding 100-200 genes. They are encased within an icosahedral protein cage, called the capsid. It is wrapped in a lipid, bi-layer membrane, called the envelope. This particle is known as the virion.

Following binding, of viral envelope protein to cell membrane receptors, the virion is internalized and dismantled. This allows viral DNA to migrate to the cell nucleus. Within the nucleus, viral DNA undergoes limited replication and transcription, of a small number of viral genes. These are termed latent genes.

In this fashion, the virus persists in the cell (and thus the host), indefinitely. While primary infection is often accompanied by a self-limited period of clinical illness, long-term latency is symptom-free.

Following activation, the virus switches on transcription of multiple, additional non-latent genes. These are termed lytic genes. They lead to enhanced replication and virus production.

Often, lytic activation leads to cell death. Clinically, lytic activation is often accompanied by emergence of non-specific symptoms. These include fever, headache, malaise, and rash.

 Genital Herpes Pictures