Herpesviruses
Herpesviruses are a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are also known as herpesviridae. They are characterized by their ability to remain latent in the body over long periods.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Herpesviruses all share a common structure—all herpesviruses are composed of relatively large double-stranded, linear DNA genomes encased within an icosahedral protein cage called the capsid, which is itself wrapped in a lipid bilayer called the envelope. The envelope is studded with proteins that the virus uses to bind to, and enter, host cells.
Types of Herpesviruses[edit | edit source]
There are eight types of herpesviruses that can infect humans, including:
- Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)
- Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)
- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
- Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)
- Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7)
- Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
Diseases Caused by Herpesviruses[edit | edit source]
Herpesviruses can cause several diseases in humans, including:
- Herpes simplex: Caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2
- Chickenpox and shingles: Caused by VZV
- Infectious mononucleosis: Caused by EBV
- Cytomegalovirus infection: Caused by HCMV
- Roseola: Caused by HHV-6 and HHV-7
- Kaposi's sarcoma: Caused by KSHV
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for herpesvirus infections includes antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. These medications can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, but they cannot cure the infection.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
Prevention of herpesvirus infections can be achieved through the use of vaccines for some types of herpesviruses, like VZV. For other types of herpesviruses, prevention strategies include avoiding contact with infected individuals and practicing safe sex.
| Herpesviruses Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
