Herpes - The dormant virus

Herpes, one of the most common sexually transmitted disease, is caused by a DNA virus which has two types: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or less commonly by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The HSV1 often cause oral herpes while HSV2 is often associated with genital herpes.

This virus is transferred through open wounds, sores, infected oral cavity, and mucous. Science has still not found a way to cure herpes so its victims have to live with the disease for their entire lives.

The herpes virus has a characteristic called latency. Latency is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the state of dormancy. This is how the herpes virus works. Once it enters the body, it duplicates itself and multiplies, spreading the virus throughout the infected area. This infection can result to a number of symptoms such as fever, muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes, and most commonly sores.

When this happens, the human body alerts the immune system and helps to control the damage caused by the herpes virus. To counter this action, the herpes virus will enter the nerve system and hide in a nerve root called “ganglion.” In genital herpes, the virus withdraws in the base of the spine called the sacral ganglion. In the case of oral herpes, the virus hides on the top of the spine called trigeminal ganglion. Here, the virus lies dormant for an unspecific amount of time.

Biological factors can cause the virus to become active again. When this happens, the virus can cause bumps or skin irregularities. Recently scientists and researchers have discovered that the activation of the virus does not necessarily produce visible effects. These are called asymptomatic shedding which means that the symptoms occur in unusual places or mistaken for something else such as ingrown hair.

There are also what medicine calls “prodomes”, these call attention to the person that the virus has become active. This comes in the form of itching or burning sensation in the are where sores usually occur.

Recurrences can cause the aforementioned symptoms and are treated with antiviral medicine. Some people take antiviral medicine only when the virus is active – this is the episodic approach of therapy. This helps in lessening the pain of the sores and other symptoms while also helping in quickening the attack. Some, however, choose to take medication daily, which is called the suppressive therapy. Taking medication consistently will help prevent outbreaks or at least lessen it occurrence.

Living with herpes takes constant attention and alertness. Infected people should always be on the look-out as they never know when the virus could attack. They should also take necessary precautions such as always drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration in the case of oral herpes. Other trigger factors like sun exposure, stress, and weakened immune system should be minimized as not to help activate an outbreak.

Infected people should also go for routine check-ups to make sure of the status of their health. Also sometimes, the symptoms cannot be recognized by people with mo medical training or without the help of equipment. It is still best to make sure rather than be complacent with a disease like herpes.

One could never explain in crystal clear state what’s the look of herpes is. Sometimes, people may even confuse it from other bodily condition. Some of those illnesses which is highly associated is canker sores which is mistakenly recognized as oral herpes and bacterial or yeast infection which is wrongly regarded as a genital herpes. Many people are confused on how to differentiate the two and some doctors may even find it hard to tell apart one from the other.

The only reassuring fact to know the real condition is, most herpes no matter where they are located on the body do look the same. The only difference is that not all of herpes possess the same severity of condition and their location in the body may differ.

When the time when they see an unusual spot on their skin, they will begin to panic without knowing the real condition of their body. So do not fret the moment when you saw something odd on your body because it can be caused by sweat rash, jock itch, pimples, and even ingrown-hair so do not fret a lot because who knows you are only suffering from these mentioned conditions.

To rule out any possibility and to detect the real condition, it is always recommended to seek the help of a physician which may on the other hand ask the sufferer to undergo various tests to know the real root of the problem in order to decide on the medication which will be used.

herpes picture

Sometimes topical creams are recommended most particularly on cases that are not yet that severe in form however some people may experience irritations on these drugs, when this happen, stop applying it on your skin and consult your doctor immediately. He may ask for further tests in order to provide the right medication for the problem.

Since most people are busy these days, a person may sometimes lack the time to wait for then a simple search on the internet will give you thousands of results to really know what is happening.
One factor that should be consider to know what the herpes looks like is to know if such spots on your skin disappears after a span of few days. Herpes do not come and go rather they stay permanently on the skin for a period of up to 6 weeks, and so if the problem continues to occur for more than a few weeks then it is about time to see a doctor for proper assessment.

Try to also determine what the condition of the breakout is, most herpes breakout progress into cut, blister, sore, or lesion.

Surely, the look of herpes is not an easy task to recognize since it may differ so much depending on how a person’s body reacts on the virus. There are even person who would not see any symptoms in their body. Do not self-medicate because it can endanger yourself, it is the best and only option to seek the help of a professional.

Herpes Eye Infection Information

Herpes is a condition feared by many since it is associated with sexually transmitted disease which is an unacceptable condition in the society. This is because of the lack of proper knowledge among individuals, they are not aware that there are two kinds of herpes virus which include the one which works as the culprit behind cold sores and the other one triggers chickenpox to occur which may lead to serious eye condition. Be reminded that these two viruses is not the major cause for genital herpes so it is right to presume that herpetic eye disease has nothing to do with sexually transmitted disease.

Among the most prevalent cause of herpes eye is the varicella-zoster virus which is also the reason behind chicken pox and shingles. Since it targets the whole body, time will come that it will attack the eye and when this take place, it’s now known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Moreover, there is also another virus behind the condition and it is the herpes simplex type 1, basically the same thing that triggers the condition of cold sores found on the mouth and lips. When this second strain reaches the eye, it typically creates a disturbing infection of the cornea known as herpes simplex keratitis.

How would you know if you are suffering from one? Among the most prevalent sign of the illness includes; irritation, tearing, recurring eye infections, watery discharge, foreign body sensation, eye redness, swelling around the eyes, eye sores, and sensitivity to light. If a couple or more of these condition occurs, it warrants an immediate visit to your doctor.

The doctor will have to examine the eye through the use of a magnifier; sometimes a stain is also dropped in order to see the irregularities. Mostly, a small ulcer within the cornea is seen which may indicate the presence of herpes eye condition. Don’t take the situation lightly because of the high risk for blindness.

The doctor may prescribe various medications depending upon the severity of your state. If only the eyelid as well as the conjunctiva is affected, it is not necessary to do any treatment procedure since the problem will most likely clear up on their own after a span of 1 to 3 weeks.

When the problem had not yet reaches its peak, the physician would probably prescribe oral anti-viral medicine or topical creams which will be applied on the spot. Sometimes, the cornea will be scraped to get rid off the diseased cells which are the main reason behind the problem.

These antiviral medicines should be employed as frequent as possible; sometimes one drop hourly is required. But if the problem is beyond treatment of ordinary medicines then a physician would have no other option but to opt for corneal transplant. You need to talk with your doctor about the possible outcome of one medication for herpes eye because some medications may further make the problem worse therefore it is your main obligation to know its side effects.

With science taking more steps towards medical breakthroughs each day, more and more herpes-infected individuals are hoping for a cure. Unlike other Sexually Transmitted Diseases that are treatable, herpes symptoms can only be suppressed. This means that once you get herpes, the virus stays with you for life; that is, until they find a cure.

Finding a cure to herpes becomes an even more pressing task, as 90 percent of people with herpes in America do not even know they have the disease. Considering that alarming piece of information, people should be made aware of the manifestations of herpes.

Herpes is a contagious disease transmitted through intercourse, be it oral, anal, or vaginal. A person may contract herpes by engaging in sexual acts with another person infected with herpes. There are two types of herpes, and both cause skin irritations. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headache, painful sex, painful urination, and vaginal discharge, among others.

Blisters and/or cold sores in and/or around the mouth characterize Type 1. This condition is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1). Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), meanwhile, cause sores in the genital area; this condition is known as Type 2. While this type is more common among individuals with herpes, statistics show that the number of people with Type 1 herpes is slowly getting bigger.

Unfortunately for a person with herpes, the virus may suddenly manifest anytime. Sores appear when the virus attacks. Sores become warnings not to engage in sexual acts in order to prevent infecting more people. However, there are also cases when the sores do not appear even when a person is infected, and the only way to tell is by getting tested.

The last thing a person with herpes should do is stress out over the situation, since stress may also make the virus active. Presently, people with herpes should find peace of mind in the fact that there are available medications to keep the virus at bay.

A person with the disease may opt to take regular medication to keep the virus dormant.; this is called suppressive therapy. The patient is given daily medication to avert outbreaks. This means that even if the person shows no manifestations of the virus, he or she takes medication. Also, this type of medication reduces the risk of passing on the disease to another person. For people who experience six or more outbreaks in one year, suppressive therapy is a good option.

Other people with herpes only take medication when the virus is active. This is called episodic therapy, meaning medication is taken only as the outbreak occurs. Statistics show that 70 percent of people diagnosed with herpes experience only less than six outbreaks per year, and episodic therapy is the best option.

Another way to control herpes at the early signs of an outbreak is to use a topical genital herpes treatment. These treatments keep the virus inactive, thus lessening the length of an episode. However, one must be cautious about topical treatments; one should always consult with a doctor to get proper prescription. Moreover, herpes-infected areas should always be kept dry. It is advisable to wash hands after touching the infected area to avoid spreading the sores.

One virus that exists without cure is the herpes. Herpes is a virus in various forms. It usually causes blisters on the lips or genitals. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), one of the many species of the virus, is the cause of blisters on the face known as cold sores or fever blisters. Herpes simplex virus 1 can be acquired at an early age of 5.

It will then stays on the nerves in our body and become dormant. It will occasionally cause an outbreak, causing blisters near the original site of infection. Outbreaks can also happen with the other species of the virus. Also, the first outbreak after the infection is said to be harsher than the next outbreaks, since the body is unable to produce antibodies that can neutralize it.

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), on the other hand, is the main cause of blisters on genitals. A person carrying the virus may spread the virus if the person produces and shreds the virus. This happens more likely while the person experiences an outbreak, although it may happen without an outbreak. Transmitting HSV occur when a person is in contact with another person who is shredding the virus through their saliva or secretions from the genitals. It can transmit even if the person does not show visible sores.

The virus can also be reactivated after being in a dormant state, caused by illnesses like cold and influenza, emotional and physical stress, fatigue or injury, eczema, gastric upset, exposure to bright sunlight and menstruation to women. There is no cure for this virus yet, but there are several methods that can help reduce the frequency of outbreaks. One method is the anti-viral medication.

The medication has anti-viral properties that are effective on skin infections like the HSV. Undecylenic acid is one of the chemicals used in the cream formulation of the anti-viral medication. There is also a vaccine known as Herpevac that is being researched upon in United States and Canada. Herpevac is proven to be 70% effective, but only on women. These are the only treatments known to prevent the herpes simplex virus, for now.

Herpes Simplex Viruses can also cause a viral disease known as the herpes simplex. It causes disorders based on the site of the infection. The disorders that the virus can cause are orofacial infection, genital infection, herpes whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes, herpes simplex encephalitis, neonatal herpes simplex, and viral meningitis.

Herpes simplex is also linked to Bell’s palsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Orofacial infection affects the face and mouth, visible by blisters. Genital infection affects the outer genitals of an individual. A symptom of the infection is the clusters of inflamed papules and vesicles and usually appears 4-7 days after sexual exposure to HSV. It may resemble cold sores.

Herpes whitlow is seen on fingers or thumbs, and sometimes in toes or nail cuticle of an infected individual. It is a painful infection caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Herpes gladiatorum is acquired by people active in sports like soccer, wrestling and rugby. It is caused by the HSV-1 when it transfers to an individual to another by a direct contact. Ocular herpes affects the eye of an individual. It is seen by a white, itchy lesion on the surface of the cornea.

Herpes simplex encephalitis is known to be a serious disorder and a severe viral infection to the central nervous system. Neonatal herpes simplex is a very rare but serious condition, usually the effect of a vertical transmission of the HSV from the mother to the newborn child. Viral meningitis is caused by the HSV-2 that recurs and last for a few days or weeks. It is resolved without using any treatment.

Bell’s palsy was linked to the HSV-1 due to its more active presence on the saliva of the person with the Bell’s palsy. HSV-1 is said to increase the person’s risk to have Alzheimer’s disease. Disorders caused by herpes simplex is not life-threatening to people that are immunocompetent.

Herpes - This STD flies below the radar

Most people with genital or oral herpes are unaware that they have the sexually transmitted disease (STD). Even though herpes, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus, is one of the most common STDs, many cases have occurred that there were no symptoms of infection or the symptoms were mistaken for something else. This is why it is important to create awareness on how to know if you have herpes and how to prevent from catching it.

1-2 weeks is usually the amount of time when the incubation of the disease occurs. During this time, infected people may experience the first outbreak with symptoms which includes fever, muscle aching, swollen lymph nodes, dehydration for oral herpes, sores in the genital and surrounding areas, and sores on the lips, in the mouth, on the tongue, gums, cheeks and roof of the mouth.

Other symptoms would include headache, tingling or burning sensation, back pain, painful urination, and genital discharge. In oral herpes, sores in the oral cavity can cause significant amount of pain while eating or drinking.

The sores caused by herpes are medically called lesions. It can range from mild to severe, therefore preventing infected people from recognizing that they have been infected by the disease. Herpes is diagnosed using a number of tests which include Direct Flourescent Antibody (DFA) test, blood sampling, culture analysis, visual recognition, sampling of the sore for identification, and staining tests.

Herpes does not have a cure yet so recurrences should be anticipated. Recurrences are often less painful and severe than the first outbreak as the body has already developed some resistance to the virus. More than 50 percent of those who experienced the first outbreak are likely to have recurrences.

According to studies, there are several factors that may trigger recurrences. These factors include strong sun exposure, menstruation, damage to skin, weakened immune system, huge alcohol intake, and undue stress.

There are also warning signs that can help infected people to predict when an outbreak will occur. They should watch out for itching, numbing, fatigue, swelling of lymph nodes, back and leg aches, pain while urinating, and other flu-like symptoms.

Herpes is a disease for a lifetime, and therefore will need constant care and medication. Antiviral medication which comes as pills or topical medication is used to hasten the healing of the sores or outbreaks. These medicine can also be use to prevent outbreaks or at least lessen their frequency of occurrence.

Infected individual should also go for routine check-ups as sometimes the sores may appear as something else or perhaps not visible to the unaided eye. And sometimes, professional help is needed just in case, infected people, or first-time infected individuals have difficulty in recognizing the symptoms as it can be mistaken for mere abrasions, insect bites, hemorrhoids, ingrown hair, and yeast infection. Being sure is always the best way. Infected people should also take precaution when in contact with uninfected persons or during sexual activity. Vigilance is the best companion of herpes.

Herpes attacks different part of the body thus they come in various kind; one is herpes labial which occurs mostly on the mouth and around its area. Typically, they come in ground of reddish ring which may occur for a span of one to three weeks, a fluid is seen to have filled the mouth. After then, a scab will cover them and eventually disappear after.

People are more prone to this illness when cold months enter the season because of the sudden change in temperature although there are some individual who could suffer from the condition anytime of the year. Sometimes after an episode of very high fever, deep emotional stress, exhibition to the sun, low and ability to combat stress may also trigger the problem. For women, they tend to suffer at its peak during premenstrual phase or menstrual periods.

Sad to say, aside from the emotional stress brought by herpes labial, the sufferer will also have to experience scrutiny of the public because of the fact that it is a contagious disease which could affect anyone. Another factor which could aggravate it is when people opt for homemade remedies which do nothing but worsen the infection. We have passed the stage of ignorance, people should be aware this time that above anything else, a physician should be consulted first and foremost.

For information, herpes labial is caused by a virus known as herpes simplex type 1 and sometimes it can also result from herpes type 2 which causes herpes genital. This problem is not new among people of these days, in Mexico alone, an estimate of 70 percent of the population are known to be suffering from this. Truth is, the virus do not disappear on the body even if its symptoms are not anymore seen, it stays there ceaselessly which is the reason why people carrying it would repeatedly suffer from one.

The only consolation is they do not produce any infuriation or symptoms at all aside from the spot and they will last on the body for a span of 10 days and as the time passes by and vesicles are created, they will eventually heal. Be reminded that there is no cure for herpes labial however doctors would prescribe medications that could lessen the pain or the sore feeling.

Ointments which reduce the crests and deadened the blisters may be used. Antibiotics may a well be administered in order to control secondary bacterial infections. Antiviral drugs are also given to prevent the virus from multiplying.

Through time, a lot of people had been reported to suffer from herpes labial. This is a problem that caused dilemma over people not only on the present generation. Are you aware that even Emperor Tiberius banned his people from kissing in public ceremonies for fear that the disease may spread? With this, it is your obligation to try to shun away from those individual who seems to be suffering from this and although your action may be a little infuriating, still in the end, you’ll equally realize that it is what’s good for both of you.

Statistics shows that more and more people in United States alone are suffering from herpes every year. There are even more than 200 Americans who had been reportedly diagnosed with this illness every day. For you to be aware of how to control this problem, you need to learn first what is herpes, basically it is a common viral infection which comes in different form depending upon the part of the body which is under attack.

There is the oral herpes and the genital herpes. There are two virus which includes the
Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1) and the Herpes Simplex Type 2 (HSV-2). One could not see how the virus looks like on bare eyes; it is only seen on microscope.

When the virus tries to attack the body, immune responses which are the natural defense against sickness would try to fight back. As it tries to struggle against the menace, the defense systems will weakens which make the body even more susceptible to the attack of other viruses. Thanks to science, nowadays there is a vaccine which will bring shield to the body against herpes. It was developed on the year 1796 by someone named as Dr. Edward Jenner who is residing in England.

He was able to discover the cure because of his effort to defend a child against smallpox through the process of inoculating cowpox virus. This revolutionary act had paved the way to better understand how the human immune system works which eventually lead to the development of other vaccines like polio, tetanus, and measles.

You might probably heard about herpes vaccine, and you are trying to settle your mind if you will avail of it or not. Be reminded however that although they are now available, there is still no known fact that it works and none of them had been accepted to be administered in United States.

One assumed herpes vaccine is the Skinner Vaccine which was named after its discoverer, GR Skinner of UK. It had been tested and retested for as long as 15 years. On present days, it is obtainable for $ 150 in England. A little data shows that there is a small scale that it can really combat the problem; however, the vaccine should still be studied further.

Moreover, there is also the Bulgarian Vaccine which was administered for about 20,000 people in Bulgaria and had shown a decent amount of therapeutic effect. Out of the total number of people who tried the vaccine, 1,500 of them showed a decrease of the recovery period, condensed number of experiencing the problem again and lower peril for visual injury.

With this, no one can really point out if these two herpes vaccine would do well for the body. Science had yet to prove it through further studies and investigations. And so, it is always the wisest move not to indulge you to any of these vaccines because the risk is also yet to be established. Prevention is still the best option.

Don’t kiss Me I Have Herpes!

Oral Herpes is a form of Herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or less commonly by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). It is very common, 50 to 80 percent of adults in the United States are infected. Typically, oral herpes is contacted as children, when they kiss or come in contact with relatives or friends who are infected.

The incubation period of oral herpes usually takes place between 2-12 days after the first contact. The symptoms – mouth sores, fever, muscle ache, and fatigue – may last for 2-3 weeks. The infected area usually experiences pain such as burning and itching. Blister may break and look like gray reddish sores which will turn yellow and scabbed after a few days.

The lips, inside the mouth, gums, tongue, the roof of the mouth, throat, and the inside of the cheeks can also be infected with sores which makes food and drink intake painful. Sores can also appear on the chin and down to the neck. Lymph nodes in the neck may also be swollen.

You can catch oral herpes if you have direct contact with an open area or through contact with infected mucous tissue. In rare occasion, performing oral sex with a person who has genital herpes can pass the virus to the individual, causing oral herpes.

Oral herpes can be diagnosed through several tests. One is taking a sample from the sore to identify if it is indeed herpes. Other tests include culture analysis, Tzanck smear (a staining test), and blood sampling to identify anti-bodies.

There is not yet a cure for oral herpes but it can be treatment to lessen the pain of the sores and also to help prevent the frequency of the attacks. Antiviral medications are used. These can come in pill form. There are also topical antiviral medications such as acyclovir ointment and penciclovir cream which can help to accelerate healing and decrease attacks.

There are cases, such as the first attack of oral herpes, where the individual may need to be under constant care as the symptoms are more severe. If the infected person has fever or other flu-like symptoms in addition to dehydration, it is best that he or she is brought to the hospital for proper care.

Other complications for infected people may also occur such as the spreading of the virus to the other organs, or as mentioned above, when individuals become dehydrated. In instances where infants contact the virus, they also need hospital care.

Infected individuals should take necessary precaution such as consistent medication, vigilance in watching out for the next outbreak, and avoid contacting other people when there are active outbreaks. Safe sex measures such as wearing condoms will also help make sexual activity safer and therefore prevent transfer. People with oral herpes should also be careful with person to person contact during non-active periods, as the virus can also be spread then. Since most of the cases of oral herpes infection happen before adulthood, infected people would do well to take care when they are in contact with children.

Do you have Genital Herpes?

One of the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) is Genital Herpes. If you have contacted the virus which causes Genital Herpes, there are chances that you might not find out about it immediately since there are cases that infected individuals have no symptoms or mistake it for another disease. Many people can mistake Genital Herpes sores for insect bites, abrasions, or yeast infection.

Its visible symptoms are sores or blisters in the genital area, the rectum, or the thigh area. Fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and groin area may also occur. Genital Herpes can be diagnosed through Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test and through sampling of the sore and testing it for the virus. Genital Herpes can be diagnosed through blood test. Test results, however, are not always a hundred percent accurate.

Genital Herpes is contacted when an individual engages with someone who is infected by the virus. Virus from the open sores or blisters can enter the individual through wounds and cuts, through the genitalia, and through the mouth. Individuals infected with Genital Herpes but have no symptoms can also pass on the disease.

The first attack may occur within a two-week period after the virus is contacted. However, there are many cases where the first attacks are not severe so individuals do not immediately become aware that they have the disease until a later attack occurs or they get tested.

There is no cure for Genital Herpes as of yet. Antiviral medicine is used to treat the sores, help with the pain, and also assist in lessening the attacks. Typically, an infected individual will have four to five attacks per year. Sores usually heal from 7 to 10 days. Studies show that excessive exposure to sun, stress, and other illness which weakens the immune system can set off attacks.

The best way to prevent from contacting this STD, is to abstain from sexual contact. Safe sexual activity can also lower the risk of infection as having a committed monogamous relationship with someone who has been tested free of the disease. Not engaging in any sexual activity when there are sores and blisters will minimize disease contact – however, infection may still occur even if there are no attacks so always wear condoms to be safe.

Women with active infection may also transfer the disease to their baby during pregnancy. For precaution, women with Genital Herpes deliver through Cesarean section.

There are two kinds of therapy: episodic therapy and suppressive therapy. Episodic therapy approach entails using treatment at first sign of the attack and continued medication for several days to quicken the attack or prevent a full-blown attack. Also, keeping the area clean and exposed to air can help to make the attack shorter.

Suppressive medication or therapy, on the other hand, involves taking antiviral medication daily to prevent attacks from happening altogether. Studies have shown that this is a safe and effective way of living with the disease. You can still have a life after Genital Herpes.