I Thought It Was Shingles, but Is It Simplex Herpes?

How to distinguish between shingles and herpes simplex?

Herpes simplex is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (Herpes Simplex Virus), one of the human herpes viruses, infecting the skin and mucous membranes of our body, resulting in blisters.

Herpes simplex is transmitted through physical contact with an infected person. Once infected, the virus remains latent in nerve tissues called dorsal root ganglia even after treatment, and can easily reactivate and cause symptoms when immunity is lowered, or due to stress or inflammation.

It is classified into type 1, which occurs above the waist, and type 2, which occurs below the waist, with symptom differences depending on the individual's immune status and the affected area.

The most common type 1 herpes simplex is cold sores, which occur from the lip border to the cheeks, chin, nose, and oral mucosa. Before blister formation, burning, pain, and itching may accompany. Type 2, which causes blisters around the genital area, is a type of sexually transmitted infection and may be accompanied by muscle pain, fever, weakness, and fatigue in addition to blisters.

Herpes simplex image. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

Herpes simplex virus is characterized by blisters clustering like a bunch of grapes. For diagnosis, the blistered area is observed, and if necessary, a biopsy may be performed.

Most cases heal naturally by keeping the infected area clean without special treatment. However, if symptoms persist for a long time without improvement or complications occur, antiviral treatment may be administered.

Kim Yoon-mi, director of the Comprehensive Health Screening Center at Daedong Hospital, said, “Many patients who visit the clinic with blisters on their body often fear it might be shingles,” adding, “Although the causative viruses are different, herpes simplex occurs localized in one area, whereas shingles causes blisters in a band-like pattern along the nerves, showing clear differences.”

She continued, “It is difficult for the general public to distinguish diseases just by the presence of blisters, so it is best to visit a nearby medical institution for an accurate diagnosis and early treatment when abnormal reactions occur in the body,” advising, “Even if blisters appear, neglecting them or resorting to folk remedies can worsen complications or sequelae, so caution is necessary.”

Recently, shingles can be prevented through vaccination, but for common blister-causing viruses, improving lifestyle habits is the best preventive measure.

To prevent herpes simplex and similar infections, it is important to maintain good health by managing nutrition, sleep, fatigue, and stress, and to pay attention to personal hygiene such as handwashing. Towels, cups, and other hygiene items should not be shared among coworkers or family members.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.