Posted on Thursday, 2nd December 2010 by Christopher Allen
Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world with approximately 60 million infected adults in the United States alone. With so many people affected by this virus it is disturbing that there is so much confusion and misinformation concerning genital herpes. Very few people – including those carrying the virus – are well-educated on this disease and its effects. This article explains how herpes replicates.
You need to understand a few basic facts about viruses before we can explain how herpes replicates. Viruses and bacteria are usually the culprits behind most infections. It is a virus which is responsible for the genital herpes infection. Viruses are some of the tiniest and simplest life-forms that exist. Viruses survive by feeding off of other cells. Viruses die quickly if separated from their host cells and need their host in order to stay alive and create more copies of themselves.
Bacteria differ from viruses in that they can live and replicate without a host and are larger in size. This results in bacteria being easier to kill.
Before an infection can begin, the herpes virus must somehow enter your body. Skin is actually a very effective protective barrier but the soft pink lining of the mouth, genitals, and anus are places through which the virus can invade. Cuts and abrasions can also provide a way in for the virus.
Once the herpes virus makes it into the body it immediately begins to reproduce. It makes more copies of itself by consuming the material inside of the host cells. During this replication process the host cells are destroyed. The destruction of these host cells is the reason one experiences the signs (sores, blisters, redness) and symptoms (tingling, itching, burning) of a herpes infection. One is actually seeing the effects of the herpes virus as it kills cells in order to replicate.
During this time, the herpes virus will also invade the sensory nerve fibers which are located throughout the entire body. Once inside these nerves the virus will makes its way along the nerve fibers until it reaches a large nerve center located near the spine called the sacral ganglion. The herpes virus will then live there for the rest of one’s life periodically making its way back to the skin’s surface in order to replicate and possibly spread to others.
Thus, the herpes virus exists in one of two lifecycles – an active cycle and an inactive cycle. When active the virus is found on the surface of the skin and can spread the infection to others. It is quite common for there to be no symptoms present when the virus is active. When inactive the virus is able to hide deep inside the nerve cells of your body. The virus is not able to infect others while dormant.
This is also part of the reason it is taking so long to find a cure or vaccine for genital herpes. The herpes virus is good at hiding deep inside nerve cells during its inactive phase making itself difficult to find and destroy.
There is also a good deal of uncertainty concerning exactly what causes the virus to reactivate. A way to keep the virus inactive would be almost as good as a cure. If it were possible to keep the virus in its inactive state then there would no longer be any symptoms or any chance of spreading the virus to others. Genital herpes would then join other infections such as chicken pox which occur once and then quickly forgotten.
At this time, science does not yet fully understand exactly what makes the virus come out of its dormant state. The suspected factors causing reactivation include anxiety, menstruation, certain foods, lack of sleep, and rough sexual contact. The causes of virus reactivation vary among individuals and even change over time for the same person. The first step in finding a way to keep the herpes virus from reactivating is a full and complete understanding of these activation triggers.
As soon as the herpes virus enters one’s body the immune system begins to fight off the herpes infection by creating antibodies. These antibodies take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to begin appearing. Once antibodies are present the herpes virus is no longer able to reproduce as easily. Recurrent outbreaks are therefore not as severe or long-lasting as the initial outbreak. In fact, many people experience only the initial outbreak and suffer no subsequent episodes.
It is not enough to understand how herpes replicates. One must also be knowledgeable on the other aspects of this infection including tranmission of the virus, outbreak management and prevention, and what choices you have when it comes to testing and treatment. It is much easier to live with genital herpes when you understand all these aspects of the infection.
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Tags: Herpes, Understanding Herpes
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