Infected with asymptomatic herpes

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Michigan Rag - 26 Apr 2004 04:58 GMT

My understanding is that if you have herpes but never show any
symptoms or that they are so mild that you never notice them, you have
"asymptomatic" herpes. If you have asymptomatic herpes and pass it on
to someone else, will their infection also be asymptomatic? If the
answer is not necessarily, is there any dependency at all - is it at
least more likely that the second person will have asymptomatic herpes
than it would be if the second person was infected by someone with
severe outbreaks?

Does the answer to the above depend on whether it's HSV1 or HSV2?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

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M.L.S. - 26 Apr 2004 06:10 GMT

>My understanding is that if you have herpes but never show any
>symptoms or that they are so mild that you never notice them, you have
>"asymptomatic" herpes.

Yep. 'Er, well, sort of. There is no type of herpes called
"asymptomatic". Rather, "asymptomatic" is a characterization of an
episode of herpes viral activation that does not rise to the level
of casual detection. In short, it's the shedding of virus at the
sub clinical level. People can have both asymptomatic and
symptomatic episodes for years. Some people do have predominantly
asymptomatic episodes, though, and are probably the majority of
people with herpes.

>If you have asymptomatic herpes and pass it on
>to someone else, will their infection also be asymptomatic?

Not necessarily. It is equally likely that a new herpes infection
passed from an overtly symptomatic partner will manifest itself
"quietly."

>If the
>answer is not necessarily, is there any dependency at all - is it at
>least more likely that the second person will have asymptomatic herpes
>than it would be if the second person was infected by someone with
>severe outbreaks?

Almost all the variation that I know of between herpes infections in
different people resides in the person, not in the herpes virus.
While there may be some variation among herpes strains, they are
very slight in comparison to the variations in the ways different
people's immune systems are capable of wrestling with the invader.

>Does the answer to the above depend on whether it's HSV1 or HSV2?

Ah, well, now you're onto something. HSV1 *prefers* the oral region
and HSV2 *prefers* the genital, and when they end up in the location
of second choice they tend to be less symptomatic than they
otherwise might. People with HSV1 genitally will often suffer no
more than an initial outbreak (if even that) and then go on to
*appear* disease free.

>Thanks in advance for the responses.

You're more than welcome. We're here to answer all your herpes and
love lorn/life questions. ;-)

Mike

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AtlantaGuy - 26 Apr 2004 06:21 GMT

> My understanding is that if you have herpes but never show any
> symptoms or that they are so mild that you never notice them, you have
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Does the answer to the above depend on whether it's HSV1 or HSV2?

No, it doesn't mean that you have some other, less-nasty form of herpes.
It simply means that it isn't bothering you as much. Different
people's bodies react differently.

If you have it and are asymptomatic, you can still pass it on to someone
else, and that other person could have a much worse time with it than
you did.

If you think you may have it, or were exposed to it, you should
definitely get a blood test.

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