Genital Herpes.

More Than 500 Million People Have Genital Herpes Virus

2008-10-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

More than 500 million people are infected worldwide with the virus that causes genital herpes and more than 20 million people become newly infected each year, according to a study published in the international public health journal, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 is commonly spread through sexual contact and leads to lifelong infection. While painful genital ulcerations are the classical symptom, most people have mild symptoms and don't know that they are infected. These persons can thus unknowingly infect others.

"Serious consequences include an increased risk of acquiring, and likely transmitting, HIV, and transmission from infected mothers to their babies during birth, which can cause brain damage and death," says Dr George Schmid, Department of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization.

This first-ever estimate of the global burden found that roughly 16% of the world's population in the 15-49 year-old age group were infected, with considerable geographic variation. Women are more commonly infected than men, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa where up to 70% of women are infected.

The Bulletin of the World Health Organization is an international journal of public health with a special focus on developing countries. It is one of the world's leading public health journals and the flagship periodical of the World Health Organization.

What is Genital Herpes!

2008-09-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection that affects an estimated 45 million Americans (more than one in five). Each year, as many as 1 million new cases are believed to occur. The infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV and both can cause the symptoms of genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly causes sores on the lips (known as fever blisters or cold sores), but it can cause genital infections as well. HSV type 2 most often causes genital sores, but it also can infect the mouth. The virus remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, causing periodic symptoms in some people. Many people who are infected with HSV never develop any symptoms.

How is genital herpes transmitted?

The infection is usually acquired by sexual contact with someone who has genital herpes. People with oral herpes can transmit the infection to the genital area of a partner during oral-genital sex. Herpes infections also can be transmitted by a person who is infected with HSV but has no noticeable symptoms. Such asymptomatic shedding of the virus may be fairly common, occurring from 5 percent to 20 percent of the time in infected individuals.

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What Are the Causes of Genital Herpes?

2008-09-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Genital herpes can be caused by either the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 or HSV-2 can cause sores on the lips and sores on the genitals. HSV-1 more often causes cold sores, while HSV-2 more often causes genital sores. HSV-1 causes up to 50% of primary genital herpes infections. Genital herpes caused by HSV-1 has a lower rate of recurrence than that caused by HSV-2

How the herpes virus is spread

Since the same virus that causes genital herpes also can cause cold sores (herpes labialis), HSV can be spread from a genital sore to the lips or from a cold sore to the genital area. HSV can be spread to or from the genitals, anus, or mouth during sexual activities or through any direct contact with herpes sores. You become infected when the virus enters your body through a break in the skin or through moist areas (mucous membranes) such as the mouth, anus, and vagina. Even very small breaks in the skin allow the virus to infect the body.

Newborns can be infected with HSV at birth. This usually happens when a woman has her primary outbreak (the first time she is infected with HSV) close to the time of delivery and the baby is delivered through the vagina. Usually, in these cases the woman either does not have symptoms or is unaware of symptoms. The chance of passing the virus to the baby is greatly reduced (less than 1% of the time) during recurrent outbreaks, which occur after women have been infected previously. Babies infected with the virus at birth are at risk for serious health problems.

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How to treat the Herpes!!!

2008-09-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

The goal of treatment for genital herpes is to provide relief from the discomfort of herpes sores and to reduce the time it takes for an outbreak to heal.

Treatment works best if it is started as soon as possible after an outbreak begins. This is especially true for outbreaks that come back again and again.

Initial treatment

Most people find some relief and recover more quickly from the first (primary) outbreak of genital herpes by taking antiviral medicines.

Use medicines to relieve symptoms and speed healing of blisters and sores.
- Antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex) are recommended for treating primary genital herpes outbreaks.
- Nonprescription medicines, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), may reduce the pain and fever from genital herpes.
Use home treatment, such as taking warm sitz baths and wearing cotton underwear, to promote healing of herpes sores. For more information, see the Home Treatment section of this topic.
Take steps to prevent the spread of genital herpes. These include avoiding any sexual contact if you or your partner have symptoms or are being treated for genital herpes. For more information, see the Prevention section of this topic.

Studies show that antiviral medicine can reduce the time it takes a primary outbreak to heal by 4 days. The medicine also decreases the number of days you can spread the virus (are contagious).

Taking antiviral medicine for the primary genital herpes outbreak does not prevent genital herpes outbreaks from recurring.

Antiviral medicines reduce the time it takes for genital herpes sores to heal and helps prevent some outbreaks. Antiviral medicines have the added benefit of reducing the possibility that people can transmit HSV to their sex partner(s).

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