Herpes simplex viruses (human herpes virus types 1 and 2, HHV-1 and 2) commonly cause a relapsing infection affecting skin, mouth, lips, eyes, and genitalia. Common serious variants include encephalitis, meningitis, neonatal herpes, and disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients. Mucocutaneous infections manifest as clusters of small, painful, erythematous-based blisters. Diagnosis is clinical; laboratory confirmation can be obtained through culture tests, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), direct immunofluorescence, or serologic tests. Therapy is symptomatic; antiviral treatment with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir is useful in severe infections and, if started early, in primary or recurrent infections.
Allergies and mood disorders, a curious link
Those with fairly intense respiratory allergies are unlikely to be in a good mood when they are in environments or periods when critical allergens are abundant and symptoms become so
