A person with a herpes infection typically seeks help for one of two reasons: for emotional support and positive reinforcement, or for treatment. People who initially learn that they have a herpes infection tend to get extremely upset about having herpes. While it is true that herpes is believed to be a lifelong condition that can present symptoms at any time -- though there are treatments that claim to be able to eradicate herpes from the body and/or end future outbreaks -- herpes is not a threat to health (the only exceptions to this are infections in infants and in people with seriously compromised immune systems), any symptoms of herpes that occur will clear on their own and also respond well to treatment, and a herpes infection usually requires no medical intervention at all. The presumption that herpes is a lifelong condition is probably herpes most significant feature. As far as infections go, herpes is basically benign.