Herpes simplex virus
The Herpes simplex virus infection (common names: herpes, cold sores) is a common, incurable, in some cases sexually transmitted disease caused by a double-stranded DNA virus. There are two main kinds of herpes simplex virus: herpesvirus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). Either type of HSV can cause either oral or genital herpes, but HSV-1 is the more frequent cause of oral herpes, also known as cold sores (usually appearing around the lips and nose), while HSV-2 is the more frequent cause of genital herpes. Although thousands of years old, herpes garnered media prominence in 1982, and the incidence of herpes has risen 30% since the 1970s. Women over 30 are especially susceptible to this disease and have more potential complications. Infected women can give their children herpes at birth, but this is rare, and can be prevented with a Caesarean section.Herpes is contracted through direct skin contact with an infected person, not necessarily in the genital area. The virus travels through tiny breaks in the skin or through moist areas, but symptoms may not appear for at least a month after infection. The most obvious symptom is blisters anywhere on the body, but especially near the mouth or genital areas. Before blisters appear, there is usually a painful itch in the area, and the blisters turn into sores after six to twelve days. There may be aches and pains in the genital area, discharge from penis or vagina, and discomfort when urinating. At the first outbreak, a person also has flu-like symptoms and swollen glands for a week or so. Further outbreaks tend to be periodic or episodic, occur four to five times a year, and can be triggered by stress, illness, fatigue, and other changes. The virus sequesters in the nerve endings (where the blisters were) during non-eruptive periods, where it cannot be conventionally eliminated by the body's immune system. The blisters can spread to any part of the body, causing damage if spread to the eyes.
Condoms can help prevent contracting herpes, but do not work consistently because some blisters might not be covered by the condom. Abstinence is an effective way to prevent contracting or spreading this disease (including abstinence from oral sex). When one partner has herpes simplex infection and the other doesn't, the use of Valtrex, in conjunction with a condom, has been demonstrated to further decrease the chances of transmission to the uninfected partner, and the FDA approved this as a new indication for the drug in August 2003.
There are several prescription anti-viral medications for controlling herpes outbreaks, including valcyclovir (brand name Valtrex), famciclovir (Famvir) and acyclovir (Zovirax) (for pregnant women). Non-prescription painkillers can reduce pain and fever during initial outbreaks. Eating dairy products and other foods high in lysine and arginine might help also. The long-term effects of herpes are not well known, but the blisters may leave scars, and it may contribute to the risk of cervical cancer in women. Additionally, people with herpes are at a higher risk for HIV because of open blisters. In newborns, however, herpes can cause serious damage: death, neurological damage, mental retardation, and blindness.
Some common myths and misconceptions about herpes are that it is fatal (only true for newborns and is rare), that it only affects the genital areas (it can affect any part of the body), that condoms are effective in preventing the spread of this disease, that it is possible to contract it from toilet seats, that it can make you sterile, that PAP smears detect herpes, and that only very promiscuous people get it (it is so common that even mildly promiscuous people are at risk).
There are eight members of the herpesvirus family that are known to cause human disease, including not only the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), but also the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the cytomegalovirus (CMV).
