Herpes
What To Know About Herpes
Herpes is an umbrella term for a group of several contagious viral infections. The most common types are known as herpes simplex Type 1 and herpes simplex Type 2. Type 1 is usually what causes fever blisters and cold sores on the face and lips. Type 2 primarily occurs on the genitals. These two strains of herpes are related to the virus that causes the Epstein-Barr virus, otherwise known as EBV. Another common strain of the herpes virus is the varicella-zoster virus, which causes both varicella (chicken pox) and zoster (shingles).
Type 1 herpes simplex surfaces on the lips and face and are fluid-filled blisters that can be very tender, tingling, and painful. The blisters begin healing by drying up and crusting and then pink healed skin appears as the crusting dissipates.
Type 2 herpes simplex most often manifests as painful sores, with a burning sensation in the genital area which is most acute during urination. Although it is most common in the vagina and penis, it can occur on the cervix. Type 2 herpes is most commonly spread through sexual intercourse.
What Are The First Symptoms Of Herpes?
The virus can surface quickly with or without symptoms. This is because once contracted, the virus never goes away. It retreats into what is called a resting phase in the skin cells and nerve endings, and an outbreak can recur quite suddenly.
The most common warning signs and symptoms are tingling and/or tenderness. Sometimes symptoms may not get any worse than that. However, if an outbreak is going to occur, the next symptoms will be puffy, red, and sore skin. Within a day, blisters, sores, or bumps appear and last for several days. There is often a burning soreness or tingling, sometimes accompanied by swollen glands and feverish flu-like symptoms.
How Is Herpes Spread? How Long Does It Last? Can It Come Back?
Herpes is spread through direct contact and the virus is broken down into two categories: primary and recurrent.
If a primary infection develops into an initial outbreak, it will occur within two to twenty days after exposure to an infected person. Symptoms can be as mild as tingling and as severe as a large painful sore. Blisters and sores from the first infection take seven to ten days to heal, with the most acute phase occurring in days two through five. Once the sores heal, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells and may not recur. However, it usually does.
When people experience a recurrence, it is frequently not as intense as the primary outbreak, in terms of length or severity. Most often, it recurs in the same location as the primary infection. Stress, fatigue, colds, weakened immune system, and sun exposure can trigger a recurrent outbreak.
How Is Herpes Treated?
Fortunately, there are two oral antiviral medications available by prescription to treat herpes; acyclovir or famciclovir are also commercially known as Valtrex and Famvir. Both medicines treat primary and recurrent infections and can also be used in maintenance doses to prevent recurrent attacks.
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