Does Herpes Affect Your Immune System

Herpes Pregnancy And Newborn Infants

Herpes can pose serious risks for a pregnant woman and her baby. The risk is greatest for mothers with a first-time infection because the virus can be transmitted to the infant during childbirth. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend using specific diagnostic tests for women in labor to determine the risk of transmission. Babies born to mothers infected with genital herpes are often treated with the antiviral drug acyclovir, which can help suppress the virus.

Research Into Herpes And The Immune System

While we know that the battle between the herpesviruses and your immune system can be long, what is less clear is whether herpes has an impact in the long run on the health of your immune system and the strength of its immune response.

The research into herpes and the immune system is broad and complex. And, in some cases, it shows seemingly contradictory results. Lets take a look at some of the recent developments in the field.

Why Is Creating An Hsv Vaccine So Difficult

Herpesviruses can live in your body undetected, meaning your immune system does not react to them right away. The longer the virus goes undetected, the more difficult it is to make an effective vaccine.

When scientists make vaccines, they target the part of your immune system that recognizes an invader like a virus or bacteria has entered your body. The vaccine then teaches your body how to kill the invader before it makes you sick. If the immune system does not react to HSV right away, a vaccine cannot teach your body how to protect you.

HSV vaccine studies in animals have had good results. But when these vaccines were studied in humans, they did not work as well. Thats when pharmaceutical companies have to restart their research attempts.

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What Are The Symptoms

The first signs of shingles are usually pain and a red rash wrapped around either side of the torso. Other symptoms include:

• Burning, tingling, numbness or sensitivity of the skin
• Chills, fever, headache, fatigue
• Pain, which can become very intense
• Red rash that appears a few days after the pain
• Fluid-filled blisters

How Long Does Shingles Last

Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. Shingles follows a pattern:

• The first sign is often burning or tingling pain sometimes, it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body.
• Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
• A few days later, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters.
• About a week to 10 days after that, the blisters dry up and crust over.
• A couple of weeks later, the scabs clear up.

Most people get shingles only one time. But, it is possible to have it more than once.

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What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• What is the best treatment for me?
• What are the side effects of antiviral medications?
• How can I reduce the risk of future outbreaks?
• Whats the best way to prevent getting another STI?
• How can I protect my partner from getting genital herpes?
• Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Millions of people are living with the herpes virus that causes genital herpes. Its a common STI. You shouldnt be embarrassed or put off seeking medical care if you develop symptoms. Treatments can ease symptoms, reduce outbreaks and protect sexual partners from infection. Having the virus shouldnt affect your relationships or sexual health. However, you do need to tell your sexual partners that you have the virus. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to prevent spreading this STI.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/23/2020.

References

Week Three: More Blisters

If your blisters persist for more than two weeks, this is a red flag that your immune system is not functioning as it should. You should visit your healthcare professional again. And remember, if your blisters appear on your face at any time, quickly see a healthcare professional. Just like the rash, when blisters develop near or in the eye or the ear, it can cause lasting damage, such as hearing loss, blindness, facial paralysis and brain swelling, according to The National Institute on Aging.

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Herpes And The Immune System

No matter what treatment approach you take, your immune system will be one of the most important weapons that you can work with to combat and control herpes simplex symptoms.

Your bodys natural immune system is responsible for keeping you healthy and fighting off invading pathogens, including Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2.

Herpes is caused by a virus so you cannot actually cure or remove it, BUT dont let this thought dishearten you. There is currently no cure for any virus at this point in time, yet your immune system has the potential to completely suppress the symptoms. This applies to all viral conditions including chickenpox , measles, mumps, the common flu and any other virus you can think of.

Treatment For Genital Herpes

Three drugs are approved to treat genital herpes:

• Acyclovir
• Valacyclovir
• Famciclovir

These medications are antiviral drugs called nucleoside analogues. The drugs are used initially to treat a first attack of herpes, and then afterward to either treat recurrent outbreaks or reduce frequency of recurrences .

No drug can cure herpes simplex virus. The infection may recur after treatment has been stopped. Even during therapy, an infected person can still transmit the virus to another person. Drugs can, however, reduce the severity of symptoms, improve healing times, and prevent recurrences.

Antiviral drugs for genital herpes are generally given as pills that are taken by mouth. If people experience very severe disease or complications, they need to be hospitalized and receive an antiviral drug intravenously. Acyclovir is also available as an ointment, which can be used as an adjunct for treatment of initial genital herpes.

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What Effect Does Herpes Have On Immuno

While there is no hard, confirmed evidence of the precise effect of herpes on your immune system, what we do know is that the herpes family of viruses do pose a much greater risk to those people with compromised immune systems.

In people with immune deficiencies caused by diseases such as AIDS or HIV or by chemotherapy infections with HSVs can lead to prolonged and severe periods of active genital or oral herpes. Other herpesviruses such as CMV can cause severe diseases such as meningitis and hepatitis in immuno-compromised people too.

Dna Sensors As Activators Of Host Antiviral Response

According to Zhang and colleagues DDX41 , a member of the DEAD-like helicases superfamily senses DNA in myeloid dendritic cells, which stimulates type I interferon production. It has been reported that the knockdown of the DDX41 gene inhibited mitrogen-activated protein kinase TBK1 and NF-B transcription factor by DNA, and it depends on STING to sense pathogenic DNA. HSV-1 capsid ubiquitination and Vp5 degradation occur in a proteasome-dependent manner . This liberates the DNA into the cytosol where they get sensed by cytosolic DNA sensors, subsequently inducing the innate immune response. A PYRIN protein interferon gamma inducible protein 16 , which functions as a cytosolic DNA sensor that directly binds DNA, has been reported. The study found that the knockdown of the IFI16 gene in mouse models inhibited the activation of transcription factors IRF3 and NF-B on infection by HSV-1 . This showed that IFI16 is essential for the activation of IRF3 and NF-B. IFI16 interacts directly with interferon-, inducing DNA to recruit IRF3 and NF-B for the transcription of genes involved in inflammatory response. In a recent publication, HSV-1 was shown to also activate the inflammatory response via the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor 3 .

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Neutralizes Part Of The Immune System

The immune system comprises two components.

Innate immunity responds immediately to external threats from viruses and other threats.

Adaptive immunity needs to identify the threat first.

Any virus must first bypass the innate immune system to have any chance of infecting a person.

In previous studies, researchers confirmed that the part of the innate immune system that deals with virus infections is called cGAS-STING , which could loosely be described as a cell police officer.

cGAS-STING works by detecting the presence of cytosolic DNA in our cells. The DNA of the cells is usually isolated in the cell nucleus and, if there is DNA outside the cell nucleus, this may be a sign that a virus has penetrated the cell.

cGAS-STING localizes the cytosolic DNA and initiates an immune response, which is the function the virus must neutralize.

A virus cannot establish an infection if it does not block the innate immune system rapidly enough, and in this study we investigated exactly how HSV does this, says Søren Riis Paludan.

Together with colleagues, Søren Riis Paludan had previously established this role of cGAS-STING in connection with an HSV infection, but the immune systems police officer has the same function in all other viral infections.

How Does Genital Herpes Spread

Herpes can be spread when an infected person has lesions blisters and open sores on their body or when you do not have any symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine can help you reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes to your sexual partners. You can also:

• Inform your sexual partner that you have genital herpes.
• Use a condom every time you have sex.
• Refrain from having sex when you have symptoms.
• Abstain from performing oral sex if you have blisters or open sores around your mouth.

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Herpes Encephalitis And Meningitis

Herpes Encephalitis

Herpes simplex encephalitis is inflammation of the brain caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2. It is a rare but extremely serious brain disease. Untreated, herpes encephalitis is fatal most of the time. Respiratory arrest can occur within the first 24 to 72 hours. Fortunately, rapid diagnostic tests and treatment with acyclovir have significantly improved survival rates and reduced complication rates. Nearly all who recover have some impairment, ranging from very mild neurological changes to paralysis.

Herpes Meningitis

Herpes simplex meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that line the brain and spinal cord. It is mainly caused by HSV-2. Like encephalitis, meningitis symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Fortunately, herpes meningitis usually resolves after about a week without complications, although symptoms can recur.

I Had Lesions When I Was Evaluated But My Culture Was Negative Does This Mean That I Dont Have Herpes

Not necessarily. Although lesions can be caused by something other than herpes, false negative herpes tests can occur if the samples are not taken appropriately, if there is a long transport time between the clinic and the laboratory, or if cultures were taken late in the course of the lesions. Lesions that occur early in the course of a herpes outbreak are much more likely to have positive cultures than cultures taken after the lesions crust over.

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If You Have Genital Herpes Already Can It Be Spread To Other Parts Of The Body Such As The Arms Or Legs

No. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted to another part of your body such as your arm, leg or hand after the first infection occurs. If you have genital HSV II, you will not get HSV II at another site in your body. The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection. However, there are cases where a person has multiple site infections from the same virus. This is usually acquired at the time of the first infection. For example, if someone has never had herpes but then has oral and genital sex with an infected partner, they can acquire the infection at both sites.

Episodic Therapy For Recurrences

For a recurrent episode, treatment takes 1 to 5 days, depending on the type of medication and dosage. You should begin the medication as soon as you notice any signs or symptoms of herpes, preferably during the prodrome stage that precedes the outbreak of lesions.

In order for episodic therapy to be effective, it must be taken no later than 1 day after a lesion appears. If taken during prodrome, episodic therapy may help prevent an outbreak from occurring or reduce its severity. If taken at the first sign of a lesion, it can help speed healing.

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Treatment Of An Initial Outbreak

The first outbreak of genital herpes is usually much worse than recurrent outbreaks. Symptoms tend to be more severe and to last longer. Your provider will prescribe one of the three antiviral medications, which you will take for 7 to 10 days. If your symptoms persist, treatment may be extended. An acyclovir ointment may also be prescribed for topical treatment of initial genital herpes.

How Herpes Is Treated

There is no cure for herpes.

• The health care provider may prescribe antiviral medicine to help speed up the healing process. It also shortens the time when the virus can spread from the herpes sores.
• Pain may be treated with medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin or by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area.
• If sores are in the mouth, avoid foods high in acid, like citrus fruits and juices.
• The infected area should be kept clean and dry.
• Wash hands often and avoid touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus.
• It is important to stay healthy by getting enough rest, having proper nutrition and exercise and managing stress well.

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How Our Immune System Is Related With Herpes

Keeping the immune system in good condition is vital to protect the body and keep our health in perfect condition. The immune system protects us from viruses, fungi, bacteria that enter our body and is responsible for destroying infected and altered cells.

Herpes are a very frequent viral infection among the population. It causes a rather painful injury that is characterized by a small redness that grows, itches, burns and, finally, ends up becoming a blister or ulcer.

Herpes can appear for different causes, one of them is directly related to a drop in defenses. We have spoken with Aleix Pellejero, from our technical department, to explain the relationship between herpes and the immune system.

The immune system is our army and it helps us fight any pathogens that come into our body. Stress, poor diet or not sleeping enough hours are pillars that compromise the immune system. Our biological army also needs to rest and be in top condition, ready for when it has to fight.

Whoever has the herpes virus, has it forever. Normally it is in a latency period, but when our immune system is in low conditions, it usually reappears, what we call an outbreak. So, the healthier and more prepared the immune system is, the better it is to keep cold sore symptoms away.

What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles

Usually, shingles develops only on one side of the body or face and in a small area rather than all over. The most common place for shingles is a band that goes around one side of your waistline.

Most people have some of the following shingles symptoms:

• Burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin
• Feeling sickchills, fever, upset stomach, or headache
• Fluid-filled blisters
• Skin that is sensitive to touch
• Mild itching to strong pain

Depending on where shingles develops, it could also cause symptoms like hiccups or even loss of vision.

For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze.

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Should You Get The Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine is safe and easy, and it may keep you from getting shingles and PHN. Healthy adults age 50 and older should get vaccinated with a shingles vaccine called Shingrix, which is given in two doses. Zostavax, a previous shingles vaccine, is no longer available in the United States.

You should try to get the second dose of Shingrix between two and six months after you get the first dose. If your doctor or pharmacist is out of Shingrix, you can use the Vaccine Finder to help find other providers who have Shingrix. You can also contact pharmacies in your area and ask to be put on a waiting list for Shingrix. If it’s been more than six months since you got the first dose, you should get the second dose as soon as possible. You don’t need to get a first dose again.

You should get Shingrix even if you have already had shingles, received Zostavax, or dont remember having had chickenpox. However, you should not get a vaccine if you have a fever or illness, have a weakened immune system, or have had an allergic reaction to Shingrix. Check with your doctor if you are not sure what to do.

You can get the shingles vaccine at your doctors office and at some pharmacies. Medicare Part D and private health insurance plans may cover some or all of the cost. Check with Medicare or your health plan to find out if it is covered.