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More people than you think have the herpes virus in their bodies. Over 60% of the population, in fact, but most do not know they have it because viral levels in their blood are so low those individuals never get the symptoms (outbreaks/sores). Those who do suffer from the symptoms typically either see the manifestation as Genital Herpes or Cold Sores on and around the mouth.

When a person "carries" the herpes virus but levels are low enough, the bodies own immune system can prevent outbreaks before they become visible. (break through skin) Those with herpes in their blood stream but no visible symptoms/outbreaks are called asymptomatic. The asymptomatic herpes sufferer cycle could go on several times per year without a person even knowing that this cycle is happening inside the body.

That is why Medavir is considered a state of the art technology in herpes treatment; Medavir eliminates herpes virus particles while exposed during an outbreak. Medavir's is proven to safely penetrate to the lower dermal layers where the virus is exposed during an outbreak. Less virus to retreat back into your body following an outbreak lessens the duration and severity of future outbreaks. After just a few treatments with Medavir the viral levels decrease and your own bodies' immune system prevents potential outbreaks before any visible symptoms occur. That is the reason tens of thousands of Medavir users report that outbreaks stop completely after just a few treatments.

The herpes viruses affect 80-90% of the world's population. Each year in the United States alone: 40 million people experience outbreaks of cold sores (Herpes Simplex Virus Type I) and 30 million have outbreaks of genital herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus Type II).

Scientific research has identified more than 5,000 different strains of the herpes virus. Eight of these strains cause disease in humans:
1.  Herpes Simplex Virus I: Cold Sores
2.  Herpes Simplex Virus II: Genital Herpes
3.  Varicella Zoster Virus: Chicken Pox and Shingles
4.  Human Herpes Virus 6: Roseola
5.  Human Herpes Virus 8: Kaposi's Sarcoma
6.  Epstein-Barr Virus
7.  Cytomegalovirus
8.  Human B-Lymphotropic Virus

There are two types of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Type 1 manifests itself in the common cold sore; Type 2 usually manifests itself as genital lesions (although in some cases, Type 2 has shown itself in the form of a cold sore). Since the lesions commonly affect the lips or areas bordering the lips, the condition is also known as recurrent Herpes Labialis.

Once it becomes introduced to the body, the herpes virus takes up permanent residence. The peak incidence of HSV Type 1 primary infection is at two to three years of age, but new cases appear in all age groups due to the highly contagious nature of the virus. Only an estimated 15% of the population experience the primary infection as an adult. The disease is thought to be transmitted by direct contact. Virus excretion persists in the body secretions for 15 to 42 days after the onset of the primary herpes infection.

After an initial infection, some people develop effective immunity; however, 20% to 45% have recurrent lesions. In North America, an estimated 7% of the general population has two or more bouts of Herpes Labialis annually. In these cases, the virus goes into hiding, escaping the host's immune system by remaining latent in a specific group of cells, causing no apparent harm to the host during quiescent periods. The exact cells in which they remain latent varies from one virus to the next. In cells harboring the latent virus, the viral genomes take the form of closed molecules and only a small subset of virus genes are expressed.

The incubation period for HSV ranges from two to twelve days. After an infection, the virus hides in the body by entering nerve endings and traveling to ganglia (clusters of nerve cells). The recurrence of the viral infection varies, but certain factors are known to trigger recurrence in humans, such as fever, emotional stress, physical trauma, systemic infections, ultraviolet light and menses. People whose resistance is compromised (less than normal) may experience more severe lesions with slower healing. An infection recurs when the virus is activated in the ganglia and travels down the nerve to the surface of the skin where it replicates. This recurrence takes place in phases:

1.  Prodrome: Tingling and itching prior to visual outbreak; warning symptoms that last less than 6 hours.

2.  Inflammation: Swelling and redness at the site before outbreak; indication that the virus and antibodies have arrived.

3.  Vesicular: Blisters that appear within 1-2 days after prodrome from one or several vesicles, or tiny red bumps commonly found at the vermilion border of the lip.

4.  Ulcers: Actual sores that form within 3 days after prodrome, often accompanied by pain; blisters leak fluid.

5.  Crusts: Sores dry and form scabs within 4 days to indicate healing; virus diminishes and wounds heal within 2-3 days.

6.  Healing: Complete within 8-10 days; new skin forms; virus replication is complete. Virus retreats to the host ganglia where it remains protected from the host's immunological attack.