Herpes Multiplex (HSV1/HSV2/CMV)

HSV1/HSV2/CMV

Herpetic infections are a group of diseases caused by representatives of DNA-containing viruses of the family Herpesviridae. There are more than 100 known herpes viruses, of which several are pathogenic, including herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 and cytomegalovirus.

HSV1 and HSV2 are both characterized by tropism for epithelial and nerve cells. HSV1 causes oral and genital herpes. The infection occurs in 67% of people under 50 years of age. HSV2 causes genital herpes with a prevalence of 13% in people between the ages of 15 and 49.

HSV1 and HSV2 infection occurs through absorption and multiplication of the virus at the inoculation site: on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, genitals and conjunctiva. The second stage is the penetration of HSV into neurons, mainly of the peripheral nervous system, where it remains latent throughout life. If the central nervous system is infected, acute infectious inflammatory processes may occur, which can lead to complications and an increased risk of mortality.

CMV infection rates range from 20 to 60% in children and from 40 to 95% in adults. Diseases caused by CMV are characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations: from mild course to generalized forms with damage to internal organs and the nervous system. CMV is a frequent cause of pregnancy loss and intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection.

In people with a healthy immune system, symptoms of the infection are typically absent, but herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus pose a significant threat to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Prevention of CMV infection is particularly important for women during late pregnancy, as fetal CMV infection often leads to numerous adverse effects, including mental retardation and hearing loss.