Herpes simplex virus

Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), also known as human herpesvirus 1 and 2 (HHV-1 and HHV-2), are two members of the eight known members of the Herpesviridae family. Both are lifelong infections and mostly asymptomatic.

Overview
HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral contact and causes cold sores, but can also cause genital herpes (persons with oral HSV-1 are unlikely to subsequently contract genital HSV-1.) HSV-1 is a highly common virus, found in an estimated 67% of the worldwide population under the age of 50. HSV-1 is most contagious while symptomatic, but can also be transmitted while asymptomatic.

HSV-2 is sexually transmitted and causes most cases of genital herpes. HSV-2 infection increases the risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. In the age group of 15 to 49, an estimated 11% of the global population has HSV-2.

Treatment
Standard treatment for herpes simplex virus include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. These medications can reduce frequency and severity of symptoms (but do not cure the infection).

Research
HSV-1 was found to reduce have all been found to reduce cellular respiration by targeting a site between complexes II and III, reducing the oxygen consumption rate by 31%.

Dr. William Pridgen hypothesizes that fibromyalgia, and possibly ME/CFS too, may be caused by HSV-1 infection in the dorsal root ganglia of the spine (and/or in other nerve ganglia), and treats fibromyalgia with an antiviral protocol comprising famciclovir (Famvir) with the COX-2 inhibitor drug celecoxib. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study clinical trial of 143 fibromyalgia patients found the protocol safe and effective.

Implicated in causation of other diseases

 * Possible cause of Alzheimer's.
 * FDA fast tracking Fibromyalgia drug which suppresses HSV-1

Cause of false positives in testing
Several herpesviruses including HSV-2 may cause false positives on Lyme disease tests.

Notable studies

 * 1994, Simultaneous measurement of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and 14 enteroviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome: is there evidence of activation of a nonspecific polyclonal immune response?
 * 1996, Viral serologies in patients with chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.
 * 2002, Markers of viral infection in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.
 * 2013, Susceptibility genes are enriched in those of the herpes simplex virus 1/host interactome in psychiatric and neurological disorders.