ETYM Latin, from Greek erphs, from erpein to creep.
1. Any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin; SYN. herpes virus.
2. Viral diseases causing eruptions of the skin or mucous membrane.
Any of several infectious diseases caused by viruses of the herpes group. Herpes simplex I is the causative agent of a common inflammation, the cold sore. Herpes simplex II is responsible for genital herpes, a highly contagious, sexually transmitted disease characterized by painful blisters in the genital area. It can be transmitted in the birth canal from mother to newborn. Herpes zoster causes shingles; another herpes virus causes chickenpox.
A number of antivirals treat these infections, which are particularly troublesome in patients whose immune systems have been suppressed medically; for example, after a transplant operation. The drug acyclovir, originally introduced for the treatment of genital herpes, has now been shown to modify the course of chickenpox and the related condition shingles, by reducing the duration of the illness.
The Epstein–Barr virus of infectious mononucleosis also belongs to this group.
Disease caused by one of the herpes viruses, especially chicken pox, cold sores, genital herpes, shingles.