What is herpes?

Herpes is a virus.  A virus is an infectious agent that can be consider a very complex molecule, or depending on definitions, a very simple micro-organism. Take your pick. In general, a virus is a very very small thing, consisting of a protein coat surrounding a core of RNA or DNA (genetic material). When a virus gets into a much larger human cell, the virus uses the cell's own machinery to replicate itself, causing havoc in the cell --and resulting in disease.

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What are the different kinds of herpes viruses?

There are a few different kinds of herpes viruses. Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex viruses. Shingles and chicken pox are caused by herpes zoster.

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What is genital herpes exactly?

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV -1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years.

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What does herpes look like?

Here is a herpes picture .

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How is genital herpes spread?

HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between episodes from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore. A person almost always gets HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. HSV-1 causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." A person can get HSV-1 by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person. HSV-1 infection of the genitals almost always is caused by oral-genital sexual contact with a person who has the oral HSV-1 infection.

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How common is genital herpes?

Very. Results of a recent, nationally representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five of the total adolescent and adult population, are infected with HSV-2.

According to the CDC (Center For Disease Control): "HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of five). This may be due to male-to-female transmission being more efficient than female-to-male transmission. HSV-2 infection also is more common in blacks (45.9%) than in whites (17.6%). Race and ethnicity in the United States correlate with other, more fundamental determinants of health such as poverty, access to good quality health care, behavior for seeking health care, illicit drug use, and living in communities with a high prevalence of STDs."

Since the late 1970s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection has increased 30%. The largest increase is currently occurring in young white teens. HSV-2 infection is now five times more common in 12- to 19-year-old whites, and it is twice as common in young adults ages 20 to 29 than it was 20 years ago.

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Is genital herpes serious?

HSV-2 usually produces only mild symptoms or signs or no symptoms at all. However, HSV-2 can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and HSV-2 infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

In addition, HSV-2 can cause potentially fatal infections in infants if the mother is shedding virus at the time of delivery. It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a first episode during pregnancy causes a greater risk of transmission to the newborn. If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually performed. Fortunately, infection of an infant from women with HSV-2 infection is rare.

In the United States, HSV-2 may play a major role in the heterosexual spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.

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What happens when someone is infected with genital herpes?

Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first episode, they can be quite pronounced. The first episode usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, or flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they don't even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or a rash.

Most people diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several symptomatic recurrences a year (typically four or five). These recurrences usually are most noticeable within the first year following the first episode.

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How is genital herpes diagnosed?

The signs and symptoms associated with HSV-2 can vary greatly. Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s). HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks. Blood tests which detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection may be helpful, although the results are not always clear cut.

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Is there a cure for herpes?

There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. Valtrex and Acyclovir are two such medications. Dynamiclear is a treatment to put on your skin.

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How can people protect themselves against herpes infection?

Abstinence is almost 100% effective, but probably unrealistic. The consistent and correct use of latex condoms can help protect against infection; however, condoms do not provide complete protection because the condom may not cover the herpes sore(s), and viral shedding may nevertheless occur. If either you or your partner have genital herpes, it is best to abstain from sex when symptoms or signs are present, and to use latex condoms between outbreaks. Avoidance of having sex with persons in high risk populations can also reduce your risk.

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Where can I get more information about shingles?

ihaveShingles.com
http://ihaveShingles.com

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Where can I get more general information about herpes?

CDC Division of STD Prevention (DSTD)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/std/

CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines
Tel Tollfree: 800-227-8922 or
Tel Tollfree: 800-342-2437
Tel En Espanol 800-344-7432
TTY for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing tty800-243-7889

National Herpes Hotline
Tel: 919-361-8488

National Herpes Resource Center
http://www.ashastd.org/hrc

National Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer Prevention Hotline
Tel: 919-361-4848
http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc

CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
Tel Tollfree: 800-458-5231
Fax Tollfree: fax888-282-7681
TTY: tty800-243-7012
http://www.cdcnpin.org

American Social Health Association (ASHA)
Tel Tollfree: 800-783-9877
http://www.ashastd.org

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