Oregon Esthetician State Board

What does herpes simplex virus 1 primarily cause?

1. Cold sores and lesions around the mouth

2. Genital herpes

3. Warts on the skin

4. Chickenpox

The correct answer is: Cold sores and lesions around the mouth

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is primarily associated with oral ailments, most notably cold sores and lesions around the mouth. This virus is predominantly transmitted through oral contact and is responsible for the blistering and discomfort that characterize cold sores. While HSV-1 can also cause genital infections, especially through oral-genital contact, its primary and most commonly recognized manifestation remains oral lesions. The remaining options refer to other conditions caused by different viruses: genital herpes is primarily caused by herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), warts on the skin are typically caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and chickenpox results from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Thus, the association of HSV-1 with cold sores highlights its specific role in viral infections, making this option the most accurate representation of the virus's primary effects.