Herpes 

What is Herpes and How Does It Spread?

What is herpes and how does it spread? The herpes is actually the name of a group of viruses that can cause sores and blisters that are very painful. There are different types of herpes. Herpes simplex can cause cold sores around the mouth and genital herpes can cause the sores to appear around the sex organs. These are the two most common types of herpes followed by herpes zoster which can cause shingles and chickenpox. 

Genital herpes is considered a sexual disease and it’s spread very easily through sex. A person that comes in contact with someone that has the herpes virus can catch this disease if they have even a tiny break in the skin. It can be spread to the vagina, penis, mouth, anus, cervix and urinary track opening. This disease can be spread to any part of the body including the eyes. It spreads the easiest when blisters are present but it can be spread anytime.

If you suspect that you might have this medical condition you should see your doctor right away. It’s easier to diagnose herpes when there is an outbreak and the sooner you start treatment the better it will be. There are different stages of infection with this disease and they will be discussed with you by your physician. The first stage is the primary stage and it will start between two and eight days after a person comes in contact with the virus. However, it can take longer in some instances.

When the painful blisters appear they will be filled with a clear or cloudy fluid and the skin underneath will be red. It can hurt to urinate and the person can have flu-like symptoms and fever. It is possible for some people to not have any symptoms and not know that they are infected. Next is the latent stage in which there are no symptoms present and the virus is moving from your skin into the nerves that are located near the spines.

The shedding stage is the next one and this is where the virus will begin to multiply in the nerves. This is when it can be in the person’s body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids and saliva. There will be no symptoms during this stage but it can be spread easily. The last stage is the recurrence stage. During this stage the sores and blisters return but the symptoms are not usually as bad as they were with the initial outbreak. Some things that can induce a recurrence include spending time in the sun, the start of the menstrual period, stress, illnesses and fatigue.

There is no cure available for herpes but medicines such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are used to treat it and to help prevent recurrences. Taking aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen can help to ease the pain along with warm baths or using warm cloths placed over the sores. Always keep the area of the outbreak clean and dry. Its also recommended that you wear cotton underwear and loose clothing. If you have herpes its vital that you tell your sex partner and always use a condom to help prevent it from spreading.

Click on the link to see a related article on the symptoms of herpes.