Herpes Simplex
Herpes is a disease caused by a virus. There are different types
of herpes caused by different strains of the same virus. Herpes
is contagious and can be spread to others by contact with the
sores. There is no cure for herpes but there are many treatments
available.
What is Herpes Simplex?
What is herpes simplex? The term herpes simplex refers to the
virus that causes herpes. Herpes is one of the most painful viral
diseases and also the most common of all STDs. Since there is
currently no cure for the herpes simplex virus, information is
very important to ensure proper treatment and less spreading of
the disease.
There are two types of herpes; Herpes simplex 1 which affects
the mouth area causing painful cold sores and herpes simplex 2,
or genital herpes. The virus that causes herpes remains in certain
nerve cells of the body and never goes away. Often the virus lies
dormant for long periods of time and may sometimes become active
during stress or times when the immune system is weak.
How Do You Recognize The Herpes Simplex Virus?
There are different signs and symptoms of the herpes simplex
virus. The most common sign of genital herpes is bumps, blisters
or sores on the genital area. The most common sign of herpes type
1 is cold sores on or around the mouth.
Often herpes simplex 1 may occur in children which can cause
them great discomfort. In addition to the treatment your doctor
prescribes, you may choose to give your child Tylenol to ease
pain and discomfort. Aspirin should not be used for children with
viral infections.
Herpes simplex type 2 occurs most often in sexually active adults
and teens, usually those with multiple partners and who do not
use protection. You should always protect yourself against sexually
transmitted diseases as much as possible to reduce your chances
of contracting diseases such as herpes.
Herpes can also cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache
and body aches. People often feel itching, tingling and burning
in the area where the outbreak occurs. Once the blisters form,
they are most often painful and sometimes still itchy. They will
go for a period of about a week usually before they burst and
scab over. Genital herpes lesions are usually worse the first
5 days and then gradually the pain and discomfort decreases.
Treatment For HSV
There is currently no cure or vaccine for herpes. The only option
at this point is effective antiviral treatment. Research on HSV
has grown a lot over the years and many new treatments are available.
Treatments include:
- Pills
- Creams
- Herbal medicines
- Vitamins and nutrients
Doctor prescribed pills and creams such as Zovirax and Valtrex
are antiviral medications that attack the virus while it is active,
reducing the size of the outbreak and helping it to clear up faster.
Valtrex is even known to sometimes reduce the occurrences of outbreaks.
Acyclovir is also known to reduce side effects that come with
herpes outbreaks such as headaches and nausea.
There are over-the-counter medications for cold sores. Some people
find these effective and some do not. You should consult your
doctor before attempting to treat yourself in this way and before
giving over-the-counter cold sore medication to children.
Many people choose to try herbal remedies and medicines to help
ease the discomfort of herpes outbreaks. Many people have found
that changing there lifestyles and eating habits can reduce the
amount of outbreaks they have or even prevent outbreaks all together.
Many vitamins and nutrients are thought to help ease herpes symptoms.
Zinc is believed to help reduce outbreaks and lessen them when
they do occur.
