What is the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2 herpes viruses?

Question

I know 1 is usually oral cold sores and 2 is genital herpes. But what’s the difference in the actual infection/disease when you have it? And what’s the difference between a coldsore, coldsore outbreak, and herpes? Can you have type 2 oral herpes? Does 99% of the population really have HSV-1 just because everyone gets “coldsores?”

In: Biology

Answer 1

You got a great answer already but I want to address your last question directly. Yes, 3/4 of any population has HSV1, often acquired in early childhood from simple family kisses.