Difference Between HPV and Herpes (With Table)

HPV is a virus that destroys specific immune system cells (your body’s fight against sickness that keeps you healthy). When HPV weakens your immune system, it is easier to become ill and even die from diseases that your body would typically be able to fight off.HPV may be transmitted by sperm, vaginal fluids, anal mucus, blood, and breast milk.

Herpes is a virus that infects people and is highly contagious. This virus comes in two varieties. One kind (HSV-1) causes sores around the lips or within the mouth, which are commonly referred to as fever blisters or cold sores. The different type (HSV-2) frequently causes vaginal sores (private parts). Either kind can potentially infect the mouth, genital region, or another portion of the body.

Comparison Table Between HPV and Herpes

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that targets the body’s natural defensive mechanism, the immune system. The body has difficulty combating disease if it lacks a robust immune system. HPV is the name of both the virus and the disease it causes. The immune system relies on white blood cells to function. HPV kills CD4+ cells, which are white blood cells. The body’s ability to fight infection is compromised if too many CD4+ cells are eliminated.

HPV causes AIDS because both phrases refer to the same disease, the terms HPV and AIDS might be misleading. Consider AIDS to be a more advanced form of HPV infection. A person with AIDS has an immune system that HPV has weakened. They are more likely to contract opportunistic infections or cancers, such as PCP (a type of pneumonia) or KS (Kaposi sarcoma, cancer that affects the skin and internal organs in HPV), wasting syndrome (involuntary weight loss), memory loss, or tuberculosis. If a person is diagnosed with opportunistic diseases (even if their CD4 count is above 200), they are diagnosed with AIDS.

When HPV is detected early enough before it progresses to AIDS, medications can help to reduce or stop the immune system’s damage. If AIDS develops, medications can frequently help the immune system recover its health. Many people living with HPV can live long and active lives with therapy.

What is Herpes?

The herpes simplex virus causes herpes. A herpes rash is most commonly found around the mouth or genitals, although it can appear elsewhere on the body. It may create a blister-like inflammation, which can lead to painful sores later on during the breakout. This viral illness is spread by direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or sores. The virus moves through sensory nerves to the nerve cell bodies, where it lives for the rest of its existence. Its recurrence is aided by a weakened immune system, excessive sun exposure, or someone who is stressed.

The majority of people who have herpes develop no symptoms or have a minor rash. Periods of active illness are followed by periods of no signs in a herpes cycle. Severe symptoms such as fever, muscular pains, enlarged lymph nodes, and headaches might occur during the first episode of the process. The illness becomes less frequent and severe in future bouts. The face and mouth can be damaged by common skin or mucosa infections. When the virus infects and destroys the eye, the situation becomes more serious. Because the herpes virus cannot be eradicated from the body, prevention is the only effective way to protect yourself from it.

Main Differences Between HPV and Herpes

1. The most frequent sign is warts. However, HPV frequently causes no symptoms at all whereas, Herpes can sometimes be asymptomatic. However, it is frequently accompanied by weeping sores or blisters and itching or discomfort immediately after infection.
2. HPV tests are available and are occasionally used in conjunction with Pap testing. Visual inspection of warts, on the other hand, can be used to diagnose some instances whereas, if lesions are evident, a physical exam is usually performed. Viral cultures are sometimes used to diagnose samples obtained using a swab.
3. The virus cannot be cured, although medicines can be administered to treat warts. If required, warts can also be removed. HPV detected during a Pap test will be treated differently whereas, Although the virus Herpes is incurable, antiviral medicines help treat symptoms and decrease outbreaks.
4. There is no way to remove your risk altogether, but practicing safe sex and receiving annual tests can significantly reduce your risk og HPV, particularly for cervical cancer whereas, Safe sex, not just for vaginal or anal sex but also oral sex, can help avoid herpes.
5. Without treatment, HPV can progress to AIDS, which is life-threatening and a leading cause of mortality in children whereas, Even if you do not receive therapy, Herpes does not affect your longevity.

Conclusion

Herpes comes in a variety of forms. Herpes affects one out of every six people in the United States, and it is more frequent among women. Please note that infected people’s partners can still have intercourse with them; they need to use the appropriate protection, such as a condom, to reduce the risks.
The tricky thing with herpes is that even if you don’t realise you have it and don’t notice any apparent sores growing in your genitals, you still have a significant possibility of infecting someone else with it.
In terms of therapy, both HPV and Herpes have medications to reduce the virus’s growth and spread. Despite this, there is currently no treatment or vaccination for the two diseases. Herpes, like HPV, is a disease that you must live with for the rest of your life.
If you have HPV, treating herpes is more challenging. Antiviral medicines in higher dosages are frequently required to treat herpes in HPV patients. In addition, many HPV patients have herpes virus types that are resistant to treatment with conventional antiviral medications.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673611617091
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309908701816