[Brandye]

OK. Let us keep this thread under control. We are getting into why it is important to sit down with your doctor and talk this through. mattc is alluding to one family of viruses and the thread is about another.

There is much confusion in the population among HPV, HSP, Warts and a few other things. There is also confusion about what a test showing anti-bodies really means. I do not have the test results, or protocol, and do not know the medical histories involved.

HSV is a small family of viruses, Herpes Simplex Virus. HSV-1 &-2 are the ones involved with cold sores at that end of the body and genital herpes at the other. Lab finding of anti-bodies can be one of several things including a false positive. It can also indicate exposure that has been defeated by the immune system or active disease in its'latent stage. Maybe 25% of the population has been exposed. Some have become active cases and others have been defeated by young, healthy immune systems. They cannot be cured because between active outbreaks they hide in a nearal cortex at either end of the spinal column.

HPV, Human Papilloma Virus, is a very large family of viruses that cause chicken pox, shingles, warts (of various sorts including genital) and cervical cancer. There are over 100 in this family and we know of some of them under a microscope. They have no identifiable clinical manifestations. I have seen studies that do indicate 80% have been exposed by age 50. There are vaccines for those that cause chicken pox, shingles and the four that are implicated in cervical cancer.

Zorb seems quite certain that she is dealing with HSV-1. Do not confuse her with other "facts."

Sit down with the doctor with all test results and be willing to answer difficult questions as well as ask serious questions.