A recent Swedish study has found that majority of the cases of herpes remains hidden and patients stay unaware of the problem.

The researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found that a third of patients who attended sexual health clinics in Gothenburg were not aware of the fact that they had been infected. Only four out of ten patients with genital herpes actually knew that they had the disorder.

The study also supports the fact that genital herpes is a common disorder and more than 500 million people worldwide have the disorder. In the West 10 to 30% of the population are infected with the virus.

The study involved 1,014 patients who attended sexual health clinics, the Sahlgrenska University Hospital skin clinic and the Sesam sexual health clinic and were tested for herpes simplex virus type 2. These genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 spreads through sexual contact.

The virus causes painful sores and blisters in the genital area. In some rare cases, it can also cause infections in the brain and spinal cord. The infection is not curable because there is no vaccine or treatment for genital herpes.