What is Herpes exactly?

Question

Ok, I know this is a stupid question. Yes I googled it.

So, all my life I pretty much thought Herpes 1 was a cold sore you get on your mouth when you are sick and that it goes away. I thought Herpes 2 was a STI that can be easily treated and goes away after medication.

I just saw a group here on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glow.android.eve">eve</a> especially for Herpes. I clicked it not knowing why an extra group was made for herpes until I saw some posts.

People writing about being scared for having it forever, talking about their kids getting it, talking about how many people don't even know they have it.. omg.

Oh. My.

So you mean to say all people I saw with a cold sore that had herpes actually had a pretty harsh virus? Damn. How does it not go away? How do people Not know they have it? I don't get it. Please explain.

Answer

Most people have hsv1 which is exactly what you said, a cold sore orally. The thing is if someone that has a cold sore performs oral sex on you, that could get you hsv1 on your genitals. Hsv2 is normally genital, but can spread to the mouth through oral sex. Both never go away. Well the sores do, but the virus is always with you. When your immune system is low sores come up. Most kids have hsv1 from family members kissing them as a baby or sharing utensils/straws with them having a cold sore. 90% of people have hsv1. If someone with a cold sore kisses a newborn baby and that baby catches the virus the baby's immune system isn't strong enough to handle it sometimes and can be very dangerous. Otherwise, it's not a big deal and is very stigmatized for no reason.

Answer

Herpes type one(HSV1) is known as cold sores,oral herpes and fever blisters. 
Most people get it as a child from family members kissing them.
Because of that,they think it is harmless and they don't think its herpes or they need to tell anybody. 
HSV1 can be anywhere the eye,nose,lips, kiss someone where they have a cut and it can spread to that area too
Due to tthat they do oral on someone and then give the person genitalHSV1.
HSV1 now makes up for more then 50% of genital herpes cases.
Genital herpes type two(HSV2) is as you see genital herpes. 
In some rare cases doing oral on someone with genitalHSV2 can give them oralHSV2.
Herpes is a virus that lives in the ganglia . For the genital area, the ganglia are adjacent to the spinal cord in the lower back. For orofacial herpes (cold sores), the ganglia are located behind the cheek bone.
When the virus is not active it is laying dormant,but there are small windows of silent sheddding which means the virus can be transmitted even without an active outbreak.
90% of the population have one or both types of herpes and  80% of the population don't know they have it because standard std testing does not include herpes testing. 
I am asymptomatic meaning I've never had an outbreak.
Herpes is spread by friction,skin on skin contact so condoms does not prevent transmitting.

Answer

Some ppl carry the herpes virus but never experience symptoms but are carriers and can pass it someone else without knowing it

What is Herpes exactly?

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