I-Herpes simplex ibangelwa lusulelo nge-HSV-1 okanye i-HSV-2, ngokuqhelekileyo isasazeka ngokunxibelelana ngqo nesikhumba okanye kumalungu omzimba, ukuqabula, okanye ukunxibelelana ngesondo. Emva kosulelo lokuqala, iintsholongwane zihlala kumaseli engqondo kwaye zinokuphinda zivele ngezizathu ezifana nokugula, uxinzelelo, ukudinwa, okanye ukucaphuka kwendawo.
Nabani na onokunxibelelana ngokusondeleyo nomntu osulelekileyo unokufumana i-herpes simplex, ngakumbi ngokuhlikihla okanye ukunxibelelana ngesondo. Abantu abaneenkqubo zomzimba ezibuthathaka, uxinzelelo oluqhelekileyo, okanye ezinye izifo bahlala benezifo eziphindaphindayo okanye ezinzima kakhulu.
I-Herpes simplex iphathwa ngamaphilisi okanye amakhrimu e-antiviral afana ne-acyclovir, i-valacyclovir, okanye i-famciclovir, anciphisa ukuqubuka kwaye anciphisa iimpawu. Ukunciphisa ubuhlungu, ukunakekelwa kwesikhumba okuthambileyo, kwaye kwesinye isikhathi ukunyanga kwe-antiviral okuqhubekayo kusetshenziselwa ukulawula ukuqubuka okuphindaphindiweyo okanye okukhulu.