What diseases are caused by HSV?

Herpes lesions can present on many parts of the body other than the mouth and genitalia, including the eye, fingers (herpetic whitlow), and torso or arms in athletes such as wrestlers (herpes gladiatorum).

Eczema herpeticum is a particularly severe form of skin herpes in patients with eczema. Herpes can also infect the central nervous system and may cause disease in pregnant women and their newborns (neonatal herpes).

Children who had neonatal herpes may experience frequent skin recurrences at many body sites during childhood. People who have low immunity (immunocompromised), such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or who receive chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation, are particularly susceptible to herpes disease.

These individuals may have chronic herpes lesions or more wide-spread disease as a result of virus reactivation.