Although they are usually caused by viruses, which depart in less than 17 percent of their genome, and can even derive from the same virus, genital herpes and oral herpes is perceived very differently by the public. Genital herpes, usually caused by HSV-2, is a scourge to frighten children, while oral herpes, usually caused by HSV-1 is just a fact.
Just about everyone knows someone afflicted with cold sore, but very few people are aware that they are caused by herpes virus HSV-1. Oral herpes, IE. cold sore, is a very common infection. There are estimates that approximately one in every two Americans are infected with HSV-1 and the numbers could easily be much greater, because so many cases are asymptomatic.
Still, HSV-1 and HSV-2 is barely different whatsoever. The so that is similar, in fact, that although HSV-1 preferentially infects area foot and HSV-2 preferentially infect the genitals, they are quite capable of jumping from one site to another during oral sex. Several studies have found that in recent years, that at least half of all the first outbreak of genital herpes in fact caused by HSV-1 not HSV-2.
Why is there such a strong social stigma associated with genital herpes, but not with oral herpes? Because the Americans still feel dirty shame is associated with about their sexual activities, or gender. Herpes virus HSV-1 and HSV-2, however, Show quite clearly how arbitrary and silly, such judgments.
After all why should you be judged to have one virus instead of another, when the two do almost exactly the same?
Sources:
Gupta R, Warren T, Wald a. (2007) "Genital herpes." Lancet, 22; 370 (9605): 2127-37
Xu, f. et al. (2006) "trends in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 seroprevalence in United States," JAMA, 296: 964-973
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