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Human Herpesvirus: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Human herpesviruses are a family of viruses that cause important childhood illnesses. They have the ability to cause dormant infections.

Gifts that last a lifetime…

What is human herpesviruses?

Human herpesviruses are a family of viruses that cause important childhood illnesses. One feature they all share in common is their ability to cause dormant infections that stay in infected children for the rest of their lives. Sometimes these dormant infections can flare up and cause symptoms over time.
Human herpesvirus 1: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (oral)
Human herpesvirus 2: herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (genital)
Human herpesvirus 3: cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Human herpesvirus 4: varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (chickenpox, shingles)
Human herpesvirus 5: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (infectious mononucleosis)
Human herpesvirus 6: (HHV-6) (roseola)
Human herpesvirus 7: (HHV-7) (roseola)
Human herpesvirus 8: (HHV-8) (Kaposi sarcoma)

Related A-to-Z Information:

Chickenpox (Varicella), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), Herpes Simplex, Mononucleosis (Mono), Roseola

Last medical review on: January 07, 2014
About the Author

Alan Greene MD

Photo of Alan Greene MD
Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.
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