How often does HSV infection recur?

Hi,

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I have read your query and concerns. It seems you have herpes labialis. It is an infection of the oral mucosa seen in young adults due to HSV (herpes simplex virus) type 1 or rarely type 2. It is a common disease, and in most cases, the transfer is through sexual contact or autoinoculation. The initial episode usually starts around 2 to 10 days post-exposure, with prodromal symptoms of burning, discomfort, or itching with fever and malaise. Following the primary infection, the virus establishes a latent or dormant state within the posterior root ganglia neurons and on reactivation travels down the nerve fiber to cause recurrent infection. If the virus does not get established in the dormant infection, then you may not get a recurrence. The recurrence of infection is not time bound, it depends on your physical fitness and internal immunity, whenever you are stressed or due to any reasons your immunity goes down you may develop these lesions. Whenever you develop these eruptions, I suggest taking Acyclovir 500 mg, three times a day and 5% Acyclovir ointment for topical application, twice daily for five days. It will reduce the duration of illness and viral shedding. I would advise you to get your HSV IgM and IgG (herpes simplex virus immunoglobulin G and M) levels tested. Review after five days or whenever needed.

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HSV IgM and IgG (herpes simplex virus immunoglobulin G and M), if it is positive for IgM, it indicates a recent infection, and if it is positive for IgG only, it indicates that the infection is older. It only tells about recent and past infection according to immunoglobulin present in the blood. Frankly speaking, there is no test to rule out latent infection of this virus in nerve root ganglion, it is clinical only. The reactivation and replication of latent HSV always occur in the area supplied by the ganglia in which latency was established, so if by certain stimuli like fever, trauma, emotional stress, sunlight, etc., can lead to overt or covert recurrent infection and shedding of HSV. Recurrent infections are typically milder and shorter may be for 3 to 5 days. This disease is transmitted through close personal contact. HSV infection occurs through inoculation of virus into susceptible mucosal surfaces for example oropharynx, conjunctiva or through small cracks in the skin. Autoinoculation means while shaking hands with another infected person, who may not have clinical symptoms but may act as an asymptomatic carrier of this virus transfer the infection to you. When you touch your oral mucosa with this infected hand, you transfer the infection to the susceptible mucosal site. HSV is a very common STD (sexually transmitted disease) in our country. 1 to 2 % of patients I treat have HSV. So, there is nothing to worry, it is a treatable and very common disease.