Is herpes contagious?

Herpes is contagious to some extent. Herpes is a type of skin disease caused by herpes virus infection, mainly including herpes simplex and herpes zoster. These viruses spread through direct contact with herpes lesions or contact with virus-containing secretions, such as saliva and lesion fluid. For example, the herpes simplex virus can be transmitted through mouth-to-mouth contact, kissing, or sharing eating utensils; although herpes zoster is mainly caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the body, patients may already be contagious before the rash appears, and the exudate from ruptured lesions also contains virus and can be transmitted to others, especially those who have not been infected with chickenpox or vaccinated against it.

Patients should pay attention to personal hygiene, keep the affected areas clean and dry, and avoid scratching the lesions to prevent secondary infection and virus transmission. During the outbreak period, patients should avoid close contact with others as much as possible, especially individuals with weakened immune systems, such as children, elderly people, or patients with chronic diseases. Personal items should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after use, and items that may come into contact with the lesions should not be shared with others.