Herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main types of herpes
- Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1): This type is commonly associated with oral herpes and typically causes cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth and on the face. However, it can also cause genital herpes through oral-genital contact.
- Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2): This type is primarily responsible for genital herpes, which is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also cause oral herpes through genital-to-oral contact.