Final answer:
Genital herpes is a lifelong condition caused by herpes simplex viruses that remain latent in nerve tissue near the spine and can reactivate, leading to recurrent outbreaks. There is no cure, but antiviral medications can manage symptoms and reduce transmission risk. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause genital herpes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genital herpes, typically caused by the herpes simplex virus, never entirely goes away and often retreats to nerves near the spine for the life of the host. The herpes simplex virus can remain in a state of latency within nervous tissue such as the lumbar-sacral ganglia and can be reactivated under conditions like stress or immunosuppression. Once reactivated, the virus undergoes a lytic replication cycle in the skin, causing the painful lesions associated with genital herpes.
While there is no cure for genital herpes, antiviral drugs can help manage outbreaks and reduce transmission risk. Furthermore, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which commonly causes oral cold sores, can also cause genital herpes.
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can spread through direct contact with lesions or sometimes from skin that appears normal but is shedding the virus. This highlights the importance of understanding and managing the disease to prevent transmission and manage symptoms effectively.