Medicalia

To most people the word “herpes” conjures up an image of genital herpes, the incurable virus that is transmitted through sexual contact and causes blisters on the genitals. However herpes is in fact a family of viruses that is extremely widespread and can cause a number of conditions affecting the skin, mouth, eyes, brain or, in rare cases, the whole body.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 6 people may carry some form of the herpes virus in their body, either active or inactive.

Forms of the herpes virus include herpes simplex type 1 (cold sores), herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), cytomegalovirus (mild hepatitis), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and herpes-zoster (shingles). All of these conditions are caused by viruses in the herpes family.

Two similar conditions, herpes gestationis and dermatitis herpetiformis, both produce herpes-like blisters on the skin but are not related to or caused by any of the various herpes viruses.

The many diseases that are caused by the herpes virus may differ widely from one another, but they all share
a few common traits:

They are generally very contagious.

The viruses can survive in latent form for long periods of time after the initial infection.

They are not curable. (However, there are effective treatments that can render the virus dormant, even in genital herpes)
Estimates suggest that nearly 30 million Americans are infected with herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and despite many studies over many years there has been little success in developing either a cure or an effective vaccine.

Many of the viruses in the herpes family do not recur after the initial disease outbreak, such as chicken pox for example. However all herpes viruses, when not active, remain dormant in your body, hidden in nerve tissues and escaping detection by the immune system.

It is unsure exactly how and why a latent herpes virus will suddenly trigger into an active infection, however it is known that certain stresses to the immune system appear to bring on an outbreak. These stresses that may lead to outbreaks include illness, injury, emotional stress, poor diet, over exposure to sunlight, and even menstruation.

A strong immune system seems to lessen recurrence of outbreaks, though outbreaks may continue throughout life. Studies show that chickenpox and shingles have a recurrence of nearly zero while HSV-1 has a recurrence rate of 14 percent and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) has a recurrence rate of 60 percent.

It is HSV-2 that most commonly causes genital infections, and HSV-1 that most commonly causes infections of the lips; however either viruses can be passed from one location to the other.

Studies have also shown that herpes sores can also provide an entryway for other infections.
Women with the herpes virus may even have an increased risk of cervical cancer and it is important for any women who has had herpes to have a cervical smear test (Pap test) every one or two years.

Whether you have been diagnosed with some form of herpes or not, practicing common sense prevention can go a long way in controlling the spread of herpes. For instance, avoid kissing persons who currently have sores on their mouth or lips.
Always practice safe sex in non-monogamous relationships and avoid all sexual contact with any partner who is exhibiting symptoms of an active outbreak of genital herpes until symptoms have disappeared. While most, but not all, male genital herpes outbreaks are easily detected, female genital herpes outbreaks can many times go completely unnoticed. In fact, many women with genital herpes don’t realize they have contracted the virus until they have passed it on to a partner.

Using a condom may or may not prevent the spread of the herpes virus from one partner to another, whether one partner has an active outbreak or not; So while using condoms may be better than no protection at all, you should be aware that even condoms are not 100% effective in protecting against the transmission of the herpes virus.

If you have a history of herpes, avoid getting overtired or allowing yourself to get run down. When you are fatigued, your immune system cannot function as well, and you may be more vulnerable to a recurrence of herpes.

If you suspect you might have some form of the herpes virus or if you have a partner that has herpes, please see your local health care provider for a diagnosis and medical advise.

When the word herpes is used, it’s usually meant to reference a case of genital herpes. The herpes virus actually comes in several forms, but the most common herpes virus form by far is herpes simplex. The two variations of herpes simplex are, naturally enough, herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2.

Oral herpes is typically caused by herpes simplex 1, though herpes simplex 1 can, on rare occasion, cause a case of genital herpes. Genital herpes is typically caused by herpes simplex 2, though herpes simplex 2 can also, rarely, cause oral herpes.

Herpes is an exceptionally common virus, likely surpassed in commonness only by the virus causing a typical cold. It’s believed that eighty to ninety percent of all adults are infected with herpes simplex 1. Herpes simplex 2 is significantly less frequent, but still fairly common with an infection rate of roughly twenty percent of all adults.

Not all cases of herpes are symptomatic. In herpes simplex 2 cases, up to ninety percent of infected persons aren’t aware of their status because symptoms either are not present or are not unique enough to be recognized. When a herpes infection does present symptoms, the symptoms are typically an outbreak of blisters, or lesions.

Herpes is a transmittable condition, especially during a symptom outbreak. It was once believed that herpes transmission could only happen if a symptoms outbreak were occurring, but evidence now demonstrates that the herpes virus can be on the skin surface, and thus can be transmitted, even when no visible signs of an outbreak are present. The presence of herpes virus at the surface of the skin without symptoms being present is known as asymptomatic shedding.

When herpes is transmitted, the path to infection is skin-to-skin contact. Intimate skin-to-skin contact is the way that herpes is spread. Secondary objects, such as a toilet seat or some other public resource, are not means for passing a herpes infection. Herpes is transmitted when people have intimate physical contact, usually while an outbreak is ongoing.

Herpes infections can absolutely be a nuisance and can be physically uncomfortable as well, but a herpes infection is not considered a serious health threat. A person’s general health state is not compromised from a herpes infection. The only possible exceptions to this are herpes infections in infants — typically infants become infected with herpes from a genital herpes infected mother — and herpes infections in persons with seriously compromised immune systems.

A trait of any case of herpes is symptom consistency. When herpes symptoms do take place, they remain in the area of the body where infection initially occurred, and don’t move about.

How can you tell someone has genital herpes? Do you look at the person? Ask yourself and look straight in the eye? Do not ask about their sex life? Well, my answer is no, maybe and perhaps.

It May be a good idea to ask someone if they are conscious of having genital herpes. The more sexual partners a person has had in their lives, the more they are likely to be infected with herpes. But these methods are totally inadequate. Did you know that the majority of people who have genital or oral herpes are not aware of it? So how do you explain that? Simple, many oral or genital herpes only people infected have no symptoms of herpes, others have symptoms that are mild enough to confuse them with a rash or a mosquito bite or whatever this is causing May, redness, swelling, itching, burning and blisters, May and some not even know what the symptoms are herpes.

The fact that someone does not have herpes or recognize the symptoms does not mean that they have not. About 25% of the U.S. population is infected with genital herpes, with women being more affected than men. Studies have shown that the vast majority (80% -90%) persons who have genital herpes have not been diagnosed with the disease.

According to a recent article published by the Carnegie Mellon University in January 2006, most sexually active adolescent girls know almost nothing about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with the exception of AIDS, before it is too late. Another 2006 study led by Dr. Herbert Kaufman, Boyd professor of Ophthalmology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, found the herpes virus-1 in 98 percent of participants in good health . None of them showed any symptoms, but they throw the herpes virus in their saliva and tears at least once during the 30 days of study. Although this study does not directly target genital herpes, it shows that most people can be totally ignorant of carrying the virus and be infected with herpes.

The surrender or excretion means that the virus is present on the skin and ready to be transmitted. Herpes is transmitted by skin contact 98% of the time. Studies have shown that excretion occur in May nearly 40% of HSV-2 (most often associated with genital herpes) of those infected. Excretion viral symptoms last May 1 to 5 days, which means that a person can be contagious without showing any symptoms at the time. The average duration of each period of viral shedding was determined by laboratory studies, but is just an estimate.

So how can you say for a fact if someone has genital herpes? The only way to know is to examine blood, swab or PCR test results. Swab and PCR tests are very accurate when they detect herpes. However, if a test was carried out late or returned at the end laboratory, May return a false negative result. Western blot test, a blood test, is the most accurate test, but a May return false negative if the person has been infected in the past 3 months. It is not easy to know whether a person has genital herpes or not.

A final consideration, herpes simplex 1 or HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes and cold sores and herpes simplex-2, genital herpes. But herpes virus-1 genital herpes is increasingly common nowadays. It is mainly transmitted during oral sex of a person who has an infection by oral herpes with or without symptoms. So if get genital herpes is a concern for you, you should consider oral herpes and genital herpes when he asked a partner.

As you can see, it is very difficult to assess whether a partner has genital herpes. There is no proven products in order to prevent transmission of genital herpes at the moment. Some are currently being tested for FDA approval and, hopefully, be marketed soon. In the meantime, the best option is to use a condom.