The herpes virus which causes the sexually transmitted disease comes from a family viruses that can cause a wide range of health conditions such as cold sores and chickenpox.
In more severe infections some viruses from this particular family can cause cancers and brain inflammation or encephalitis.
One thing that these viruses have in common is that they can cause life-long infections to the patient.
Once you contract the virus, it stays in your body for the rest of your life in varying states of activity.
They get to your nerves This particular virus will literally get to your nerves.
Upon transmission, they usually attack and infect a certain part of the body - typically the area that came into contact with another infected body part from another individual.
The symptoms that the virus cause will normally get treated over time but the virus stays in the body.
It actually hides in the nervous system in dormant state.
It can be triggered yet again by several different factors and usually infects the area that it attacked the first time, or at least somewhere near that area.
Transmission The herpes virus can be transmitted through a number of different ways.
You can acquire it by coming into close or direct contact with the infected skin of another person.
It can also come through contact with body secretions such as saliva.
A pregnant mother infected with herpes may also transmit the virus to her baby at childbirth - something that can cause dangerous health conditions for the infant considering that child still has an immature immune system which will not be able to protect it.
Re-activation As earlier mentioned, the herpes virus typically rests in your nervous system in dormant state after the symptoms are treated.
It can be reactivated by a number of factors such as when you catch the flu, go through emotional or physical stress, overexposure to sunlight, fatigue or even a female's monthly period.