Herpes causing virus is very contagious in nature and tends to be easily transmitted through direct contact. In general, once an individual has contracted the herpes virus, it remains dormant for a period of time in an inactive mode and gets activated at a later date.

Transmission of herpes
The herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are of two main types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1, which is associated with oral herpes, is usually spread as a result of saliva sharing through kissing or even through the use of an infected person’s cup. This makes it all the more difficult to identify as to how one may have acquired the infection, and individuals of all ages can easily acquire this infection through this mode of transmission. There are scientific studies which prove that close to 85% of the population comes in contact with this infection at least once during their lifetime. Another mode of transmission for the type 1 herpes is oral sex, and almost all the cases of genital herpes develop as a result of this mode of transmission.

Type 2 herpes is a sexually transmitted infection and spreads only through sexual contact with an affected individual. These cases are less common in occurrence, but even those who have the infection do not develop any noticeable symptoms in order to be aware of it. This way, people end up transmitting the disease without knowing. Another mode of transmission is from a mother to newborn babies through childbirth, and the consequences can also be severe in these cases at times. One of the greatest risks is faced by women who get infected when they are pregnant.

While this is the general mode of transmission of the herpes virus, there are possibilities that both types occur interchangeably as well. This could be due to oral sex, and it gets all the more difficult to pinpoint which type of virus it is until it actually manifests itself with a breakout. One way to get a diagnosis is through type-specific herpes blood tests that can exactly pinpoint the type of virus one has contracted.

Diagnosis for herpes
In the case of type 1 herpes, patients themselves can identify the presence of infection due to the lesions that occur within the mouth and on the lips. Doctors can also diagnose it easily through the evident signs and symptoms.

This is true of type 2 herpes as well, but the problem is not identified until the lesions actually show up on the skin, which does not happen in half the cases.
Consequently, one has to undergo a diagnostic blood test to confirm the herpes infection. Tests that help identify the type of herpes infection include the following:

• Viral cultures (a simple swab)
• Antibody test (blood test)
• A specific blood test to screen the virus itself

It is always better to consult a doctor and confirm whether it is herpes and get immediate antiviral treatment to stop it from spreading and reduce the frequency of occurrence of the infection.