Herpes is a groups of deep vesicles on red and inflamed bases. Includes cold sores and fever blisters. A small group of capsid-forming DNA viruses, sometimes divided into Type I (forming vesicles and blisters on the mouth, lips-generally above the waist) and Type II (usually physically transmitted, with symptoms mostly below the waist). It is a inflammation of the skin or mucous membrane, caused by a virus, small blisters or ulcers are formed. You'll find that very often when cats are suffering from respiratory problems, they might have ulcers on their inner eyelids, in their mouth on the palate or on the tongue.

Shingles, also called herpes zoster or zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems; however, the virus can reappear years later, causing shingles. Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a physically transmitted disease.

There are two kinds of infections - primary and recurrent . Although most people get infected when exposed to the virus, only 10 percent will actually develop sores. The sores of a primary infection appear two to twenty days after contact with an infected person and can last from seven to ten days. The sores from the primary infection heal completely and rarely leave a scar. However, the virus that caused the infection remains in the body. It moves to nerve cells where it remains in a resting state. Recurrent infections tend to be mild. They can be set off by a variety of factors including fever, sun exposure, a menstrual period, trauma (including surgery), or nothing at all.

The oldest antiviral medication for herpes is acyclovir. Acyclovir is available as a generic drug and is also sold under the brand name Zovirax?. It has been available since 1982 in a topical form (as an ointment) and sold since 1985 in pill form. Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years.

About 50 percent to 80 percent of the adult population in the United States has oral herpes (commonly called cold sores or fever blisters), with as many as 90% having the virus by age 50.

Whether there are severe symptoms or not, virus will persist in the body. To avoid the immune system, HSV will retreat along the nerve pathways, finding safe sanctuary in a nerve root called a ?ganglion.? In cases of genital herpes, HSV retreats to the sacral ganglion:hyperlink , located at the base of the spine. In ?oral? or facial herpes (cold sores), HSV finds its way to the trigeminal ganglion:hyperlin k, at the top of the spine. In the ganglion, the virus remains inactive (?latent?) for an indefinite period of time.

Several medicines, acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir), are available to treat herpes. These medications should be started as soon as possible after the rash appears and will help shorten how long the illness lasts and how severe the illness is. Pain medicine may also help with pain caused by herpes. Call your doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

If tingling, burning, itching, or tenderness occurs in an area of the body where there is a herpes infection, the area should be kept away from other people. With mouth herpes, one should avoid kissing, sharing cups, or lip balms. For persons with genital herpes, this means avoiding physical relations, including oral/genital contact during the period of symptoms or active lesions. Condoms can help prevent transmission of genital herpes between partners and should always be used. However, they will not protect against the virus that may be living on nearby genital skin that is not covered by the condom.