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Herpes HSV-1 and HSV-2: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Author: Disabled World
Updated/Revised Date: 2022/04/11
Category Topic: Herpes Simplex Virus (Publications Database)

Page Content: Synopsis Introduction Main Subtopics

Synopsis: Information regarding Oral Herpes, Simplex virus 1, or cold sores, and Genital Herpes known as Simplex virus 2.

The symptoms of herpes are often dismissed as a yeast infection or a bladder infection. It may be years down the road before the person realizes they have herpes.

About half of all individuals who contract herpes do not actually show symptoms, which is why so many people are not aware they have the virus.

Introduction

Herpes is a serious issue and a virus that is easily spread. More than fifty million people in the United States have the virus. This means one in five adults has a form of Simplex 1 or Simplex 2 viruses. The symptoms of herpes are often dismissed as a yeast infection or a bladder infection. It may be years down the road before the person realizes they have herpes.

Main Document

Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection.

There are currently no known cures for herpes, but there are a couple of good quality medications on the market to select from. Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir are the most common ones.

Continued below image.
Image of Herpes labialis, commonly known as cold sores, a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip. Symptoms typically include a burning pain followed by small blisters or sores.
Image of Herpes labialis, commonly known as cold sores, a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip. Symptoms typically include a burning pain followed by small blisters or sores.
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Oral Herpes - Simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)

Herpes Simplex is also known as the common cold sore or fever blister. It is caused by Herpes Simplex virus type 1. This illness occurs when type 1 virus enters the tissue of the susceptible person; then, later manifestations are caused by the reactivation of the virus which remained latent in the person's tissues since the time it first entered.

Oral Herpes may be localized or generalized. If localized, the first sign of herpes may appear on the mouth and gums. Though cold sores tend to heal within 7 to 10 days without any cold sore treatment, the fact remains that the duration can seem like a lifetime to sufferers.

If you have repeated outbreaks of cold sores, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to help with these occurrences. Although antiviral drugs cannot cure cold sores, they certainly can help to curb the symptoms and shorten the duration of outbreaks. Many patients also report a decrease in size of the blisters and a reduction in the number of blisters experienced during an outbreak.

Docosanol is the only over the counter cold sore medication that has shown proven results in shortening the duration of cold sore outbreaks. It is especially effective if taken at the first sign of an outbreak, during the tingling stage.

Benzocaine and lidocaine are two common numbing agents that work to relieve not only pain, but also burning and itching that is associated with this disease. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can also be taken to ease the pain associated with cold sore blisters.

Genital Herpes - Simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)

Infection of the genitals, commonly known as herpes, is the second most common form of herpes. Other disorders such as herpetic whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes (keratitis), cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, Mollaret's meningitis, neonatal herpes, and possibly Bell's palsy are all caused by herpes simplex viruses.

The genital herpes incubation period is the time between contracting the virus and the first signs of symptoms. This period can be anywhere from two to twenty days. About half of all individuals who contract herpes do not actually show symptoms, which is why so many people are not aware they have the virus.

Following the incubation period, it is common to feel a tingling, itching, burning sensation and pain in the genital area. This stage is often followed by an outbreak of pimple-like sores that will turn into single or multiple blisters. These blisters typically burst around the fifth day to form wet ulcerations that are extremely painful to the touch. This is the most contagious stage of a herpes outbreak, and sexual activity is discouraged.

The key to stopping the spread of HSV 2 is understanding genital herpes prevention.

The herpes simplex virus is spread only through skin-to-skin contact or mucous membrane contact. Common occurrences of skin-to-skin contact that result in the spread of the virus include penile-vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral-genital sex, and other sexual body-to-body contact.

To reduce the risk of transmitting genital herpes, people who have the virus should avoid sexual contact from the time they first feel any symptoms until their lesions are completely healed. During periods when there are no signs of an outbreak, genital herpes prevention is still advisable. Latex condoms offer significant protection against the spread of HSV 2 to women.

Genital herpes is not transmitted through the air, and there are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, body towel, or hot tub.

Herpes Treatment

There is currently no known cure for herpes, but there are a couple of good quality medications on the market to select from. Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir are the most common ones. These drugs will suppress the virus and prevent future outbreaks. If taken daily, the risk of spreading the infections is greatly reduced.

Some individuals turn to herbal medicine because they want to avoid covering the cost of prescription drugs to treat herpes. There are various plants said to heal the symptoms of herpes including lemon balm, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Wash your hands and clean your face as often as possible. Don't share drinks, razors, or cigarettes with other people, and use a clean glass or cup every time you have a drink.

If you have Herpes, you should contact a physician to learn more about your options.

Herpes Facts and Statistics

Not all genital herpes statistics are consistent from study to study. Most say 25% of American women have the virus, and 20% of American males. Other studies show slightly lower numbers.

Subtopics

Latest Publications From Our Herpes Simplex Virus Category

1: - An international team of scientists uncovered and sequenced ancient genomes from the herpes virus that commonly causes lip sores.

2: - WHO global estimate reveals over 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are currently infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).

3: - Article looks at whether people that have had Shingles or herpes zoster in the past could have another outbreak.

Complete Publications Database


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Cite This Page (APA): Disabled World. (Rev. 2022, April 11). Herpes HSV-1 and HSV-2: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments. Disabled World. Retrieved December 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/health/dermatology/herpes/

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