The key difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2 is that HSV-1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that primarily spreads through oral contact, while HSV-1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that primarily spreads through sexual contact.
Herpes is a viral infection that produces painful sores. Herpes sores normally appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. It takes one or more weeks to heal. In addition to sores, herpes can also result in flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, or swollen glands. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the cause of both genital and oral herpes, and it is categorized into two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is HSV-1
3. What is HSV-2
4. Similarities – HSV-1 and HSV-2
5. HSV-1 vs HSV-2 in Tabular Form
6. Summary – HSV-1 vs HSV-2
What is HSV-1?
HSV-1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that causes oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters). About 50 to 80 % of adults in the United States have oral herpes. It is normally transmitted through oral secretions or sores on the skin (edges of the lips). Therefore, oral herpes can be spread through kissing, oral sex, or sharing objects like toothbrushes or eating utensils. The signs and symptoms of oral herpes include flu-like symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes and headache, redness, swelling, heat, pain, or itching around the area of the initial infection, painful fluid-filled blisters that appear on the lips or nose, blisters that leak fluid and become sores, and the sores will start to crust over and heal after weeks.
Figure 01: HSV-1
HSV 1 infection or oral herpes can be diagnosed through virus culture, PCR testing, blood tests, or skin biopsies. Moreover, specific treatments for oral herpes include keeping the infected area clean and dry, taking antiviral medications such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, and taking over-the-counter topical anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents.
What is HSV-2?
HSV-2 is a type of herpes simplex virus that causes genital herpes. This virus can be present in blisters or ulcers or fluid from blisters, the moist lining or fluids from ulcers, and moist lining, or fluids from the rectum or vagina. The viral type moves from person to person during sexual activity. In genital herpes, the sores develop in the buttocks, thighs, rectum, anus, mouth, urethra, vagina, cervix, penis, and scrotum. The signs and symptoms of genital herpes may include pain or itching that occur around the genitals, small blisters around the genitals, anus, or mouth, painful ulcers that form when blisters rupture, ulcers that ooze or bleed, ulcers that heel and form scabs, painful urination, and discharges from urethra and vagina.
Figure 02: HSV-2
HSV-2 infection or genital herpes can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and PCR testing. Genital herpes treatment is with prescription antiviral pills acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir, valacyclovir (Valtrex), acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve pain, applying cool compresses to relieve pain and itching, and wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear till healing.
What are the Similarities Between HSV-1 and HSV-2?
- HSV-1 and HSV-2 are two different types of herpes simplex virus.
- Both viral types can cause painful and itchy sores or ulcers in different parts of the body.
- The infections caused by both viral types can be diagnosed through blood tests and PCR testing.
- The infections caused by both viral types can be treated through antiviral medications and pain relievers.
What is the Difference Between HSV-1 and HSV-2?
HSV-1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that primarily spreads through oral contact, while HSV-1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that primarily spreads through sexual contact. This is the key difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2. Furthermore, HSV-1 causes sores on the mouth (edges of the lips) and nose, while HSV-2 causes sores on the buttocks, thighs, rectum, anus, mouth, urethra, vagina, cervix, penis, and scrotum.
The following table summarizes the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Summary – HSV-1 vs HSV-2
Herpes is a viral disease. This viral infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The herpes infection causes blisters, sores, or ulcers in or around the mouth or genitals and other symptoms such as flu-like symptoms. Herpes simplex virus is categorized into two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 mainly causes oral herpes, while HSV-2 mainly causes genital herpes. This summarizes the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Reference:
1. “Oral Herpes.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2.“Genital Herpes.”NHS Choices.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Herpes Infection” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “HSV 2” By Victoramuse – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia