Any of a variety of conditions characterized by an eruption of small, usually painful, blisters on the skin. The term usually refers to an infection with the herpes simplex virus. Forms of this virus are responsible for cold sores and genital herpes (see herpes, genital), among other conditions. A closely related virus, varicella–zoster, is responsible for 2 other conditions in which skin blisters are a feature: chickenpox and herpes zoster (shingles).
Herpes |
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