About Herpes Simplex
The herpes simplex virus is responsible for infections that occur on the face and on the genitals. There are two types of herpes simplex: herpes simplex virus 1, or HSV1, is present in 8 out of 10 people and can result in such annoying infections as cold sores; herpes simplex virus 2, or HSV2, has an effect on as much as 20 percent of the people in the world and is usually linked to genital herpes, a frequently seen sexually transmitted infection.
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Facts
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Herpes infections are easily spread from one person to the next in large part because as many as a third of the people that have the infection exhibit no symptoms at all. However, they can still transmit the infection through their saliva and through sexual activity. The herpes simplex virus is so minute that millions upon millions can fit on the head of a pin. They are made up of a core of viral DNA that is enveloped in a coat of protein. These proteins will actually invade the cells of the body. Once someone has been infected with herpes simplex virus, they will be a carrier of it for the rest of their lives.
Symptoms
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When someone develops their first case of herpes on their face from the virus, they will have a very sore throat, their mouth will become tender and sore, and they may develop a fever. The glands in the neck can swell and there can be an outbreak of small blisters that are filled with fluid, painful and itchy. However, the blisters may not appear, making it hard to realize that the herpes simplex virus is responsible. In genital herpes, these blisters will cause a red group of lesions that can spread over the entire region. Numbness can occur, and it may be hard to urinate. The glands that exist in the groin can become swollen, and there can also be a fever present.
Time Frame
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Although the blisters that occur with herpes will go away in 2 to 10 days, the virus itself will remain dormant in the body. It will live in the nerve cells and cause another outbreak when certain triggers set it off. These triggers can be such things as stress, an ailment like a cold or the flu, sunburns, tiredness or sexual intercourse. Some people will actually feel a tingling in the area where an outbreak of the herpes blisters is going to happen. Those with genital herpes on the average will go through 5 to 8 outbreaks in a year. The oral herpes symptoms can reappear as often as once every month or as infrequently as just once a year. The outbreaks that occur over time will be less and less severe, but they will usually develop in the area of the initial infection.
Treatments
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Herpes simplex virus cannot be cured since any medications that can deal with it will also damage the nerve cells where the virus is living. Outbreaks of the disease can be treated with anti-viral medications such as Acyclovir, which can bring down the reproductive powers of the simplex virus in the first outbreaks, making future outbreaks fewer in number. It must be utilized as soon as the first signs of herpes appear. Topical ointments that are anti-bacterial in nature can help to stop any infections that may occur in the blisters as they break open. People with a herpes outbreak should wear loose-fitting clothing to be more comfortable, and should avoid hot temperatures. It is important to keep the infected region clean and dry. The sores should not be touched, and if they are, the person needs to wash their hands. Over-the-counter painkillers can deal with the associated discomfort.
Prevention/Solution
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Herpes can be prevented from spreading by making sure that sores on the body are not touched. Someone with herpes should avoid having sexual intercourse when they are having an outbreak or are experiencing the tingling and itching that can take place just before an outbreak. Condoms should be used to minimize the risk of spreading the disease to a sexual partner, since the virus can be transmitted to another even when no symptoms manifest themselves. It is unwise for someone with the herpes simplex virus to share items such as towels or eating utensils with other people. Pregnant women with the herpes simplex virus can pass it on to their newborn infants, but doctors can avoid this by using precautions as long as they are aware of the situation.
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