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Herpes gladiatorum is one of the most infectious of herpes-caused diseases, and is transmissible by skin-to-skin contact. The disease was first described in the 1960s in the ''New England Journal of Medicine''. It is caused by cutaneous infection with Human Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1), which more commonly causes oral herpes (cold sores). Another strain, HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes, although the strains are very similar and either can cause herpes in any location. While the disease is commonly passed through normal human contact, it is strongly associated with contact sports—outbreaks in sporting clubs being relatively common. Other names for the disease are herpes rugbiorum or "scrumpox"〔 (after rugby football), "wrestler's herpes" or "mat pox" (after wrestling). In one of the largest outbreaks ever among high-school wrestlers at a four week intensive training camp, HSV was identified in 60 of 175 wrestlers. Lesions were on the head in 73 per cent of the wrestlers, the extremities in 42 per cent, and the trunk in 28 per cent. Physical symptoms sometimes recur in the skin. Previous adolescent HSV-1 seroconversion would preclude most herpes gladiatorum, but being that stress and trauma are recognized triggers, such a person would be likely to infect others. ==Causes== Herpes gladiatorum is a skin infection primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus. The virus infects the cells in the ectodermal layer of the skin. The initial viral replication occurs at the entry site in the skin or mucous membrane.〔eMedicine Portal. ("Herpes Simplex details" ) 2010-02-10.〕 The infections caused by a HSV Type 1 virus may be primary or recurrent.〔American academy of dermatology. ("Herpes Simplex explained" ) 2010-02-10.〕 Studies show that even though most of the individuals who are exposed to the virus get infected, only 10% from them will develop sores as well. These types of sores appear within two to twenty days after exposure and usually do not last longer than ten days. Primary infections usually heal completely without leaving scars but the virus that caused the infection in the first place remains in the body in a latent state. This is the reason why most of the people experience recurrences even after the condition is taken care of. The virus moves to the nerve cells from where it can reactivate. Once the condition has recurred, it is normally a mild infection. The infection may be triggered by several external factors such as sun exposure or trauma. Infection with either type of the HSV viruses occurs in the following way: First, the virus comes in contact with damaged skin, and then it goes to the nuclei of the cells and reproduces or replicates.〔(Herpes Simplex Virus infection and recurrence ) About health online portal. Retrieved on 2010-02-10〕 The blisters and ulcers formed on the skin are a result of the destruction of infected cells. In its latent form, the virus does not reproduce or replicate until recurrence is triggered by different factors. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Herpes gladiatorum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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