I-Herpes simplex ibangelwa ukutheleleka nge-HSV-1 noma i-HSV-2, ngokuvamile kusakazeka ngokuxhumana ngqo nesikhumba noma amaseli omzimba, ukuqabula, noma ukuxhumana ngokocansi. Ngemuva kokutheleleka kokuqala, igciwane lihlala kumaseli ama-nerve futhi lingaphinda livuke ngezimbangela ezifana nokugula, ukucindezeleka, ukukhathala, noma ukucasuka kwendawo.
Noma ngubani onokuxhumana eduze nomuntu othelelekile angathola i-herpes simplex, ikakhulukazi ngokuhlikihla noma ukuxhumana ngokocansi. Abantu abanamasosha omzimba abuthakathaka, ukucindezeleka okuphindaphindiwe, noma ezinye izifo bavame ukuba nezifo eziphindaphindayo noma ezinzima kakhulu.
I-Herpes simplex iphathwa ngamaphilisi noma amakhrimu e-antiviral afana ne-acyclovir, i-valacyclovir, noma i-famciclovir, anciphisa ukuqubuka futhi anciphisa izimpawu. Ukunciphisa ubuhlungu, ukunakekelwa kwesikhumba okuthambile, futhi kwesinye isikhathi ukwelashwa kwe-antiviral okuqhubekayo kusetshenziselwa ukulawula ukuqubuka okuphindaphindiwe noma okukhulu.