Is herpes simplex contagious? It turns out to be like this

Herpes simplex is a common skin disease in daily life, but most people do not know whether herpes simplex is contagious. In fact, herpes simplex is not only contagious, but also has many ways of transmission. Let us learn about it together!

Human herpes simplex virus is divided into two types, namely herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-I) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-II). Type I mainly causes infections of the skin, mucous membranes (oral mucosa), and organs (brain) other than the genitals. Type II mainly causes skin and mucous membrane infection in the genital area, which is called genital herpes.

Herpes simplex transmission:

1. Transmission through sexual contact: The herpes virus enters the human body through damaged mucous membranes or skin, grows and multiplies at the entrance, and then spreads through the blood or nerve pathways. Patients and asymptomatic carriers are the main sources of infection. In adults, the positive rate of genital herpes virus antibodies is higher. It is generally around 10-70%, and varies mainly with socioeconomic status and sexual life.

A survey showed that the rate of vaginal genital herpes virus excretion in women with lower socioeconomic status was 0.4-1.33%. When someone conducted a reproductive tract examination on a group of prostitutes, it was found that the excretion rate of genital herpes virus was as high as 12%, and 70% of the prostitutes were carriers of the genital herpes virus. It can be seen that the occurrence of genital herpes is clearly related to sexual contact. Genital herpes is highly contagious.

2. Contact infection: Healthy people become infected when they come into contact with damaged skin, diseased mucous membranes and secretions of patients with genital herpes. This is also a common way of transmission of genital herpes.

3. Passive infection: This is a point that you need to pay special attention to in preventing genital herpes, which is to avoid passive infection. Infection caused by healthy people using clothes, utensils, towels, bedpans, bathtubs, etc. used by patients.

4. Mother-to-child transmission: Pregnant women with primary or recurrent genital herpes can transmit the virus to the fetus. One is direct transmission during vaginal delivery. The transmission rate, that is, the fetal infection rate, is 50% in primary herpes and 8% in recurrent herpes. The other is transmission through blood. When a pregnant woman carries the virus, the virus in her blood can enter the fetus through the placenta.