herpes viruses


herpes viruses

A group of eight different viruses that includes the herpes simplex virus, types I and II, causing, respectively, ‘cold sores’ and venereal herpes, herpes zoster virus, that causes CHICKEN POX and SHINGLES, the Epstein Barr virus, that causes GLANDULAR FEVER (infective mononucleosis), the cytomegalovirus that affects people with immunodeficiency disorders, and human herpes virus 8 that causes KAPOSI'S SARCOMA. From the Greek herpein , to creep.

Herpes viruses

A group of viruses that can cause cold sores, shingles, chicken pox, and congenital abnormalities. The Epstein-Barr virus which causes mononucleosis belongs to this group of viruses.Mentioned in: Infectious Mononucleosis