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herpes
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herpes

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A false-colour micrograph of the Herpes simplex or cold sore virus. Herpes is the name given to any of several infectious diseases - including cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, chickenpox, and glandular fever - caused by the viruses in the herpes group.

Any of several infectious diseases caused by viruses of the herpes group. Herpes simplex I is the causative agent of a common inflammation, the cold sore. Herpes simplex II is responsible for genital herpes, a highly contagious, sexually transmitted disease characterized by painful blisters in the genital area. It can be transmitted in the birth canal from mother to newborn. Herpes zoster causes shingles; another herpes virus causes chickenpox.

A number of antivirals treat these infections, which are particularly troublesome in patients whose immune systems have been suppressed medically; for example, after a transplant operation. The drug acyclovir, originally introduced for the treatment of genital herpes, has now been shown to modify the course of chickenpox and the related condition shingles, by reducing the duration of the illness.

A vaccine for shingles was tested by US researchers in 1999.

The Epstein-Barr virus of infectious mononucleosis also belongs to this group.
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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, develops when a person previously infected with chickenpox experiences a reactivation of the dormant virus.
Shingles shot's value is uncertain by Science News
MRI can detect inflammatory changes (such as those caused by herpes zoster infection and otitis media) and Bell's palsy (which can involve the facial nerve); therefore, it can help distinguish inflammation from tumor.
Facial nerve schwannoma presenting as a tympanic mass by Erdem, Eren / Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
Goldman, "Universal Varicella Vaccination: Efficacy Trends and Effect on Herpes Zoster," International Journal of Toxicology 24, no.
Trading chickenpox for shingles? by Mothering
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