Which pairing correctly matches HSV type to typical location?

Which pairing correctly matches HSV type to typical location?

• A. HSV-1: mouth; HSV-2: genitalia
• B. HSV-1: genitalia; HSV-2: mouth
• C. HSV-1: hands; HSV-2: feet
• D. HSV-1: lungs; HSV-2: brain

Answer: (A)

Herpes simplex virus types tend to affect specific regions. HSV-1 is most commonly responsible for infections around the mouth and lips (oral orolabial herpes), usually acquired through close contact in childhood. HSV-2 is most commonly responsible for genital herpes, transmitted mainly through sexual contact. So pairing HSV-1 with the mouth and HSV-2 with the genitalia reflects their typical locations. Keep in mind that there can be occasional exceptions—HSV-1 can cause genital herpes and HSV-2 can cause oral herpes—but the usual pattern is mouth for HSV-1 and genitalia for HSV-2, which is why that option is considered correct. The other pairings don’t match the common distribution (for example, HSV-1 on hands or HSV-2 on lungs/brain is not the typical site association).

Herpes simplex virus types tend to affect specific regions. HSV-1 is most commonly responsible for infections around the mouth and lips (oral orolabial herpes), usually acquired through close contact in childhood. HSV-2 is most commonly responsible for genital herpes, transmitted mainly through sexual contact. So pairing HSV-1 with the mouth and HSV-2 with the genitalia reflects their typical locations.

Keep in mind that there can be occasional exceptions—HSV-1 can cause genital herpes and HSV-2 can cause oral herpes—but the usual pattern is mouth for HSV-1 and genitalia for HSV-2, which is why that option is considered correct. The other pairings don’t match the common distribution (for example, HSV-1 on hands or HSV-2 on lungs/brain is not the typical site association).