Herpes HSV Type 1

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by leslielam

Can it really be that almost everyone around us is infected with HSV 1?

On the average 8 out of 10 adults are infected with HSV 1.

However only a small proportion actually have outbreaks. The rest won't even know that they are infected unless they get tested.

Humans carry all sorts of viruses, bacteria and fungi in their bodies. There is not a single living human in this world that is free of foreign organisms.

However the vast majority of us co exist with the bugs that live within and in many instances the relationship with these organisms is symbiotic which means they are actually necessary for our overall well being.

It is only when the immune system is compromised in some way or the delicate balance between the various organisms is disturbed (eg from a dose of strong antibiotics) do the infections become a problem. A good example of this is thrush. Women often end up with thrush after taking antibiotics for some other infection.

This is because the antibiotics kills good bacteria as well as the bad and this allows the yeast infection which causes thrush to take hold.

Good bacteria is essential to our well being. That is why it is never a good idea to take antibiotics unnecessarily.

To sum up being infected with HSV1 is a normal. It is those that are not infected that are the exception.