I.

Introduction

Herpes (Greek, herpein, “to creep”), name applied to several types of skin eruption characterized by the formation of blisters. The term embraces primarily two distinct disorders, herpes simplex and herpes zoster, both caused by viruses. Other herpes viruses include Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis, and cytomegalovirus, which can lead to birth abnormalities when the virus invades pregnant women. Together, these viruses are estimated to cause more human illnesses than any other group of viruses.