What you need to know about Herpes or HSV ?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and spreads primarily through sexual contact. It’s important to note that even after you’re infected, the virus may remain dormant and may reactivate many times throughout a single year. The disease itself has a handful of uncomfortable symptoms, including itching, sores, and pain in and around your genital area. However, even if you’re infected, you may not display any symptoms at all. Even if you don’t show symptoms, though, you can still be contagious. To help prevent the spread of herpes and other STDs, it’s always a good idea to use a condom during sexual intercourse.

Genital Herpes Risk Factors

With herpes, there are a couple of factors to keep an eye out for that may indicate if you’re at risk of contracting the disease. These are the following:

• You’re a woman
• You have multiple sexual partners

What Causes Herpes

There are two different types of virus infections that can cause herpes , herpes type 1 or herpes type 2 virus.

• HSV-1: This type typically causes blisters or cold sores around your mouth and spreads via skin-to-skin contact, such as kissing or during oral sex.
• HSV-2: This type is more likely to result in genital herpes and spreads via skin-to-skin and sexual contact. It’s the more common of the two virus infections and is very contagious.

The virus can’t live long outside the body, which means it’s extremely difficult to get the infection via contact with things such as toilet seats or other objects used by infected persons.

Symptoms of Herpes

If you have herpes, chances are you may not even realize it right away. In many cases, you may have the virus, but none of the symptoms, particularly because symptoms associated with herpes are mild. However, if you do have symptoms, they may include the following:

• Itching or pain in the genital area
• Small white or red blisters or bumps
• Ulcers
• Scabs

During outbreaks, you may also exhibit flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and more.

Diagnosis of Herpes

If you think you may have genital herpes, schedule a visit with your doctor. During a physical exam, your doctor will perform a physical exam and order lab tests, including the following:

• Blood test
• Viral culture
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Treatment of Genital Herpes

If you’re diagnosed with genital herpes, your doctor may prescribe a variety of different medications to help treat the condition. Fortunately, many prescription antiviral drugs may help alleviate the following:

• Help sores heal sooner
• Alleviate the severity of symptoms
• Reduce the frequency of outbreaks

Some of the more common medications prescribed to treat genital herpes include:

• Acyclovir
• Valacyclovir

All patients with first episode of infection should get anti-viral medications from their doctor. Don’t take your partner’s medications or take any medications not prescribed by your doctor. Recommended regimens for first time genital herpes infection geneally include one of the medications below for 7-10 days.

1. Acyclovir 400 mg orally three times a day OR
2. Valacyclovir 1000 mg orally twice a day OR
3. Famciclovir 250 mg orally three times a day.

Some patients may need supression therapy for herpes. Supression therapy reduce the recurrence by 70%-80%. Some of the commonly presribed regimes include:

1. Acyclovir 400 mg orally two times a day OR
2. Valacyclovir 1000 mg orally once a day OR
3. Famciclovir 250 mg orally two times a day.

Some patients may have severe infection requiring hospitalisation and intravenous antiviral therapy. The dosing is based on an individual symptoms and regimens are different in sepcial cases like pregnancy, HIV, kids.

PROGNOSIS OF HERPES

Unfortunately, there is no cure for herpes, and the virus may remain in your body indefinitely, even with treatment. However, over time, the frequency of outbreaks usually decreases.

COMPLICATIONS OF HERPES

Even with treatment, genital herpes may result in the following complications:

• Higher risk of other STDs
• High risk of passing herpes on to newborns during a vaginal delivery
• Bladder problems
• Rectal inflammation
• Meningitis

References

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus

https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/herpes.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm