prognosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

Recurrent attacks are the rule rather than the exception. They are generally less severe than the first attack.

The risk of recurrence is affected by:

  • age - the older the better, possibly based on the viral experience of the immune system
  • viral type - HSV II recurring very much more often than HSV I
  • anecdotal factors:
    • stress
    • fatigue
    • fever
    • trauma
    • sunlight
    • oral contraceptive pill
    • anaesthesia
    • pregnancy