Herpes Gladiatorum Treatment Guidelines

Herpes gladiatorum is a highly contagious viral skin infection caused by skin to skin contact, where the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transmitted from one person to another. Its primary symptom is a red, itchy or painful rash. Other symptoms include cold sores, swollen glands, blisters, and fever.

Genital and mat herpes may be caused by the same virus, and are both the result of skin contact, but they differ in where they occur and how they are transmitted. Like other sexually transmitted infections, genital herpes is spread via sexual contact and occurs on the mouth and genitals. Herpes gladiatorum is spread through other physical contact (e.g. sports) and tends to affect the upper body.

Left untreated, mat herpes can lead to severe complications (especially for immunocompromised individuals). It is important not to let the virus spread to other body parts. These may include internal organ or central nervous system complications (e.g. inflammation of the brain, tissue death in the eye), and increased risk of contracting other infections through open sores (e.g. HIV).