Herpes - Treatment, Causes, Symptoms

There is a whole family of herpes viruses that can infect a number of different species, but there are two main types of virus that can infect humans. These are known as herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2 for short), type 1 causing most cold sores and type 2 producing genital herpes. Particularly sharply this problem arises in the winter, when our organism is weakened because of the cold and lack of vitamins.

HSV-1 can be caught by direct skin contact with the affected part on an infected person, while the virus is active. 70% of people in the UK have facial herpes, and the rates are even higher in the USA and the developing world. HSV-2 is also passed on through direct skin contact with the affected part. Surprisingly, a huge 25% of sexually active people in the UK have genital herpes. More women than men suffer with genital herpes, because it is much more likely that an infected male will pass it to a female partner than it is that an infected female will transmit it to her male partner.

The statistics are much higher than we would expect them to be, but this should be a relief, rather than something to worry about. Most people who have any form of the herpes virus will either have no symptoms, or their symptoms will be so mild that they don’t even notice them. The symptoms include blisters or ulcers on the affected part of the skin, and occasionally flu-like symptoms, but a relatively small proportion of people suffer with these. The first outbreak is usually the worst; any recurring outbreaks are usually much milder, and in many cases, people don’t have any more symptoms after their first outbreak.

The reason that the virus can show itself again is that it doesn’t ever leave your body. This is not to say that it will definitely continue to affect your life; other viruses such as chicken pox and glandular fever stay in your body too, and they don’t bother you – in fact, most people are not even aware that these viruses never fully leave us. Our immune systems just usually do a pretty good job of fighting things off. People with lowered or suppressed immune systems, however, are more likely to be susceptible to recurring attacks of herpes because their bodies are less able to keep it at bay. Another time it can be a problem is for pregnant women, who must tell their doctor if they have been diagnosed with herpes at any point in their life.

There is no existing cure for herpes, but antiviral medications can be prescribed to people who suffer with symptoms, especially during their first outbreak. These antiviral drugs can not only shorten outbreaks but, if taken regularly, can help prevent the recurrence of outbreaks and reduce the possibility of the virus being passed on to their partners.

The best thing that you can do is to try and avoid catching genital herpes, and there are many preventative measures that can be taken. The surest way to avoid any STI is to abstain from all sexual activity. However, if you are sexually active, then try and stick to a mutually monogamous, long-term relationship, with a partner who has tested negative for genital herpes. Furthermore, latex condoms do not remove the risk of transmission but they greatly reduce it, so these should be used if your partner has not been tested and found to be clear of herpes, while, if you used condoms or not, you should always avoid engaging in any sexual activity with a person whose virus is obviously active and who is suffering from symptoms, as this is by far the most likely time that the virus will be transmitted.