Herpes febrilis is a viral disease that causes painful sores, commonly known as cold sores, around the mouth and genitals. The spelling of this word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) where "herpes" is pronounced as /ˈhɜrpiːz/ and "febrilis" as /fɛˈbraɪlɪs/. The first syllable of "herpes" is stressed, while the second syllable of "febrilis" is stressed. The word "herpes" comes from ancient Greek meaning "to creep," while "febrilis" comes from Latin meaning "feverish." Together, these words describe a painful and contagious viral infection.
Herpes febrilis is a medical term used to describe a type of viral infection that is characterized by the development of cold sores or fever blisters. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), specifically the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The term "herpes febrilis" itself is derived from the Latin word "herpes," meaning "to creep," and "febrilis," meaning "fevered."
When a person contracts herpes febrilis, they may experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and overall malaise. However, the hallmark manifestation of this condition is the appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters or sores on or around the lips, mouth, or nose. These blisters tend to be painful and can break open, forming crusts before eventually healing within a few weeks.
Herpes febrilis is highly contagious and is typically transmitted through close contact, such as kissing or sharing items like utensils or towels with an infected individual. Once an individual is infected with the herpes simplex virus, it remains dormant within their body and can periodically reactivate, resulting in recurrent outbreaks of cold sores.
Treatment for herpes febrilis usually involves conventional antiviral medications that help to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Additionally, measures such as maintaining good personal hygiene, avoiding triggers (such as stress or excessive exposure to sunlight), and using protective measures (such as avoiding direct contact with infected areas during an active outbreak) can help to prevent the spread and recurrence of herpes febrilis.
Cold sore, h. simplex of the lips, occurring often in pneumonia and other fevers.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "herpes" comes from the Greek word "herpein", which means "to creep" or "to crawl". It refers to the characteristic creeping or spreading skin lesions that are symptomatic of herpes infections.
The term "febrilis" derives from the Latin word "febris", meaning "fever". It is used to denote that herpes infections are often associated with a febrile (feverish) state.
Therefore, "herpes febrilis" combines Greek and Latin roots to describe a viral infection characterized by spreading skin lesions and a feverish condition.