• Question: how do you get herpes?

    Asked by prosyndicate to clairemarieroberts, Faye, Martin, Mus, Pete on 20 Apr 2012.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 20 Apr 2012:

      That’s an interesting question! Herpes is generally caused by the herpes simplex virus, and can occur in lots of different ways. The most common form is ‘oral herpes’, but you might recognise it more as cold sores that you can get on your mouth.The second most common form is genital herpes, but there are other types too – things like keratitis (when your eye becomes inflammed), or more seriously, encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain, and neonatal herpes, which occurs in babies.

      In general, herpes is caused by direct contact with body fluids from a person who already has the virus – but it can also be caught just by skin-to-skin contact.

      Hope that answers your question!

    • Photo: Faye Didymus

      Faye Didymus answered on 20 Apr 2012:

      Good question prosyndicate! There are many different types of Herpes…some more serious than others. You can get herpes by having direct contact with a blister or sore that is infected with the herpes virus but it can also be transmitted through bodily fluids when there are no symptoms showing.

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