Have Herpes Simplex 2. Is This Curable? How Serious Is This?

Posted on Sat, 13 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 Answered on

Fri, 3 May 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : cani die from Herpes simplex 2 and is it cureable

Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (5 hours later)

Herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) is not curable, however it can be controlled with medications. This virus usually causes genital herpes, and can produce flares every once in a while, however some people never get flares. If you ever get a flare, it is important to start taking the recommended medication within the first 24 hours (usually valganciclovir is given as a pill).
People don't die from this virus, unless the immune system is very low or "immunosuppressed", such as patient with AIDS, chemotherapy, on certain medications that suppress your immune system. Those patients can develop complications in other organs such as the brain (encephalitis), liver (acute hepatitis), etc, and these are rare. HSV-2 is fairly common.
Keep in mind that you can transmit the virus to your sexual partner(s) even if you don't think you have a flare (or the sores), therefore it is important to always use protection.
Hope that helped.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Enrique Molina (2 minutes later)

i have type 2 diebeties but its in remission can this be deadly now cause i got Herpes simplex 2,

Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (9 hours later)

No it will not kill you just because you have diabetes. Diabetes can put you at risk of bacterial or fungal infections whenever it is not controlled, but its not related to viruses.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar