Herpes Outbreak – Understanding the Medical Condition

Herpes outbreak is a major health concern. It is estimated that close to 30 million Americans are believed to be carriers of Herpes Simplex Virus-2 or HSV-2. This is the strain of the virus that causes genital herpes. What makes the situation alarming is that a significant number of these individuals are not even aware that they have the disease. This is one of the major challenges in the control and treatment of herpes outbreaks. In fact, a recent scientific research shows that 1 in every 6 individuals in the US are believed to be HSV-2 carriers. This means that while you may feel somewhat isolated when you have genital herpes, there is a strong likelihood that a lot of the people you meet on the street are in the same boat as you are. Basic Facts about Herpes Outbreaks There is no known prevention or cure for genital herpes. This pathogenic microorganism can enter the body through our skin and affect the nerve endings, where it multiplies and causes sores, redness and irritation. As soon as the outbreak ceases, the virus leaves the nerve endings and moves to the spinal cord, where it will remain until the subsequent episodes of genital outbreaks. With proper treatment and control of genital outbreak, a person suffering from herpes can still hope for a normal life, and this means normal sexual relationship and even childbirth. General Characteristics of Herpes Outbreaks Skin lesions that are associated to HSV-2 appear like single or groups of small skin blisters or sores. This condition is also characterized by mild to extreme pain and itchiness. Since the virus moves through the nerve ganglia, recurrence normally affects the area where the initial infection occurred. Herpes outbreaks can persist for a few days or up to a few weeks depending on the severity of the infection and the state of your immune system. The initial herpes outbreak normally occurs within 2 days to 3 weeks upon exposure to the virus. The severity and duration of the outbreak normally diminish as it becomes recurrent. It is at these stages that the body is able to develop enough antibodies. Scarring becomes an issue if the skin lesions associated to herpes outbreaks become infected by bacteria. Herpes outbreaks are characterized by flu-like clinical symptoms such as fever, malaise, muscle aches, headaches and swollen lymph nodes. However, there are also some cases where few or none of these symptoms are present. This is one of the main reasons why it is so hard to diagnose and manage this viral disease.