Dormant Herpes

Dear Dr. Tom:

I had a severe outbreak of genital herpes
six years ago, I was told it was HSV Type 1 and would never experience
another outbreak again, which I didn’t for six years nor did I ever
think about the horrible incident again.

However, last year I developed another
outbreak, completely similar to the intial one six years prior and
subsequent ones as well. Is that common for the virus to lay dormant
for so many years and return so vigilantly?

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear Poster Who Asks About Dormant Herpes:

Yes. HSV1 can hide within the nerve ganglia
and the virus can re-appear many years later. The herpes disease can
never be irreversible. The reason for such recurrency is not exactly
known.

Part of our Herpes Guide guide.

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