Which statement best describes HSV-2 and HSV-1 infection patterns?

• A. Genital HSV is most commonly caused by HSV-2
• B. HSV-1 is never genital
• C. Genital HSV-1 is increasing and genital HSV-2 remains common
• D. HSV-2 cannot cause oral lesions

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how the causes of genital herpes are shifting over time. HSV-1, once mainly linked to oral herpes, is now a common cause of genital herpes as well, especially through oral-genital contact. At the same time, HSV-2 continues to be a frequent cause of genital herpes. So in modern epidemiology, genital HSV-1 infections are increasing, while genital HSV-2 infections remain common. It’s important to note that HSV-2 can cause oral lesions too, though this is much less common than HSV-1 causing oral disease, so the statement that HSV-2 cannot cause oral lesions isn’t accurate.