Testing Positve for Herpes HSV-2 But No Signs - A Typical Asymptomatic Carrier

by Shaun
(Birmingham, Alabama)

I've tested positive for HSV2. The results were > 5. My Dr. said that means that I've had the infection for a long time. I'm just confused because I've never noticed or experienced an outbreak.

Answer
Now this is typical of what is called an asymptomatic carrier. Definition: An asymptomatic carrier is a person that has contracted an infectious disease, but who displays no symptoms. Although unaffected by the disease themselves, a Herpes Carrier (known as Asymptomatic Herpes) can still transmit the virus to their partner.

The virus can remain inactive in the body for long periods. Most of the time when Herpes sores are not present on the skin the virus remains in a latent (inactive) state in the central nervous system, where it does no damage.

This is one of the reasons that herpes infections are difficult to treat effectively is that the virus hides in the cells of the nervous system between outbreaks. During these times, when the infection is latent, the virus becomes effectively invisible to drugs and the immune system.