Cause for severity of symptoms

[hopefaith]

My question has to do with identifying the potential severity of outbreaks in a person. In short, what causes a some people to have no symptoms vs mild symptoms/no lesions vs or severe and recurrent symptoms?

I have read extensively on the subject and obviously know that it depends on a person’s immune system. However, I am struggling with what that means exactly. If I am going to find a potential partner, I would like to do my best to find someone that is more likely to not experience any symptoms. Cleary there is no formula for predicting this, but there should be some things that are are either scientifically proven or hypothetically postulated to help narrow it down. For example, I’ve read if someone already has HSV-1 oral, then symptoms from HSV-2 genital are likely to be less severe. So I am trying to figure out what I can do to figure out how someone’s body might react to HSV-2 and the questions I can ask that will help determine how “good” someone’s immune system is.

It is mind boggling to think that the same virus can cause virtually no symptoms in some people vs. cause extreme pain in others (stories of people going to the hospital ER for days). Is that latter mainly in extreme cases where people have have compromised immune systems such as autoimmune diseases ? I’ve read different statistics, but based on your extensive knowledge and research, of those infected with HSV-2, what are the percentage (i) have no symptoms or very mild (ii) have one outbreak and (iii) have recurring multiple outbreaks?

I myself do have HSV-1 (oral) and HSV 2 (genital) but am nearly asymptomatic (no lesions or outbreaks, very minor sensations I think are psychosomatic and neuralgia). I like to think my immune system is generally good, say a 7 or 8 on a scale of 1-10 but thats an arbitrary number – I am pretty healthy and don’t get sick often. If someone is lower on that scale, say get sick a lot and is 4 out of 10, does that mean they are more likely to experience worse symptoms? I pretty sure I got HSV-1 when I was a child since I remember having a cold sore on my mouth before so maybe that why I’ve never had a true primary HSV 2 infection (I read that HSV-1 has pre-existing immunity to HSV-2 such that it helps reduce the severity of the HSV-2 symptoms). Its stuff like this that is helpful to know yet isn’t really talked about in pamphlets.

Is it even true that the severity of symptoms has more to do with the person’s genetic make-up and immune system rather than the type of HSV-2 strain (not HSV-1 vs. HSV-2, but the serotype within HSV-2 as I’m sure there are many variations)?

[blue84]

I think your forgetting that everyone's body is different.. Some people have weak amune systems and maybe get hit harder ...I for example have rash that appears red and goes away ..but never blisters ..I heard of people getting bad reaction to it..then I know people that live a healthy life style and workout and others that seat around and eat away...I think stress does play big part ..some people find relief in god others in gym...I eat everything and I have notice if I drink a coffee my rashes become more red am pretty sure because the reaction of coffee

[Idk286]

My question has to do with identifying the potential severity of outbreaks in a person. In short, what causes a some people to have no symptoms vs mild symptoms/no lesions vs or severe and recurrent symptoms?

I have read extensively on the subject and obviously know that it depends on a person’s immune system. However, I am struggling with what that means exactly. If I am going to find a potential partner, I would like to do my best to find someone that is more likely to not experience any symptoms. Cleary there is no formula for predicting this, but there should be some things that are are either scientifically proven or hypothetically postulated to help narrow it down. For example, I’ve read if someone already has HSV-1 oral, then symptoms from HSV-2 genital are likely to be less severe. So I am trying to figure out what I can do to figure out how someone’s body might react to HSV-2 and the questions I can ask that will help determine how “good” someone’s immune system is.

It is mind boggling to think that the same virus can cause virtually no symptoms in some people vs. cause extreme pain in others (stories of people going to the hospital ER for days). Is that latter mainly in extreme cases where people have have compromised immune systems such as autoimmune diseases ? I’ve read different statistics, but based on your extensive knowledge and research, of those infected with HSV-2, what are the percentage (i) have no symptoms or very mild (ii) have one outbreak and (iii) have recurring multiple outbreaks?

I myself do have HSV-1 (oral) and HSV 2 (genital) but am nearly asymptomatic (no lesions or outbreaks, very minor sensations I think are psychosomatic and neuralgia). I like to think my immune system is generally good, say a 7 or 8 on a scale of 1-10 but thats an arbitrary number – I am pretty healthy and don’t get sick often. If someone is lower on that scale, say get sick a lot and is 4 out of 10, does that mean they are more likely to experience worse symptoms? I pretty sure I got HSV-1 when I was a child since I remember having a cold sore on my mouth before so maybe that why I’ve never had a true primary HSV 2 infection (I read that HSV-1 has pre-existing immunity to HSV-2 such that it helps reduce the severity of the HSV-2 symptoms). Its stuff like this that is helpful to know yet isn’t really talked about in pamphlets.

Is it even true that the severity of symptoms has more to do with the person’s genetic make-up and immune system rather than the type of HSV-2 strain (not HSV-1 vs. HSV-2, but the serotype within HSV-2 as I’m sure there are many variations)?

I was recently diagnosed with hsv 2 I have no symptoms at all. And I am negative for hsv 1 so even though people say if you have hsv 1 it may help with severity in hsv 2 but how does that explain me having no symptoms at all? Unless I was misdiagnosed. (Going for a second opinion) just my thoughts on the matter.