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Herpes Statistics In The Us

How Herpes Is Transmitted

5 Stigma-Busting Facts About Herpes

Herpes is most efficiently passed via direct genital contact with a herpes lesion, but it can also be passed through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has an active infection but no symptoms.

The latter manner of transmission, referred to as asymptomatic genital shedding, occurs when the virus reactivates and literally sheds viruses out of the part of the body where the initial infection occurred.

In people with asymptomatic HSV-2, shedding can occur in episodes throughout the year, silently passing the infection without the person even realizing it.

Herpes also can be passed to a child during childbirth or shortly after birth if the baby comes into contact with lesions present on the birthing parent. This is otherwise referred to as maternal transmission or perinatal transmission. Less commonly, the virus can be transmitted while the fetus is still in the uterus.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Valacyclovir Tablets

Kidney failure and nervous system problems are not common, but can be serious in some patients taking valacyclovir tablets. Nervous system problems include aggressive behavior, unsteady movement, shaky movements, confusion, speech problems, hallucinations , seizures and coma.

Kidney failure and nervous system problems have happened in patients who already have kidney disease and in elderly patients whose kidneys do not work well due to age. Always tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems before taking valacyclovir tablets.

Common side effects of valacyclovir tablets in adults include headache, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and dizziness. Side effects in HIV-infected adults include headache, tiredness and rash. These side effects usually are mild and do not cause patients to stop taking valacyclovir tablets.

Other less common side effects in adults include painful periods in women, joint pain, depression, low blood cell counts and changes in tests that measure how well the liver and kidneys work. The most common side effect seen in children < 18 years of age was headache.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects that concern you. These are not all the side effects of valacyclovir tablets. For more information ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Causes Of Genital Herpes And Risk Factors

Genital herpes is an enormous public health concern because a person doesn’t have to have symptoms to infect others. Because many people with HSV-2 are unaware of their infection, they can continue to spread the virus without even knowing.

An estimated 87.4% of people between the age of 14 and 49 who are infected have never been diagnosed with HSV-2 and may not even realize they have the virus.

  • Having other STIs, including HIV

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Symptoms Of Genital Herpes

Most people with genital herpes have no symptoms, although they can still spread the virus.

Symptomatic genital herpes typically looks like small blisters or vesicles on the genitals or rectum. These may appear in clusters and can burst open to form weeping , scabby, and painful ulcers.

Genital herpes is a lifelong condition with periods of remission between outbreaks. The first outbreak is usually the worst, with other symptoms, like fever and body aches. After that, further outbreaks tend to have less extreme symptoms and last a shorter time.

Globally An Estimated Two

Shingles

More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 or 67% of the population are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 , according to WHOs first global estimates of HSV-1 infection published today in the journal PLOS ONE.

Herpes simplex virus is categorized into 2 types: herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 . Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are highly infectious and incurable. HSV-1 is primarily transmitted by oral-oral contact and in most cases causes orolabial herpes or cold sores around the mouth. HSV-2 is almost entirely sexually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, causing genital herpes.

Access to education and information on both types of herpes and sexually transmitted infections is critical to protect young peoples health before they become sexually active,

Dr Marleen Temmerman, Director of WHOs Department of Reproductive Health and Research

The new estimates highlight, however, that HSV-1 is also an important cause of genital herpes. Some 140 million people aged 15-49 years are infected with genital HSV-1 infection, primarily in the Americas, Europe and Western Pacific. Fewer people in high-income countries are becoming infected with HSV-1 as children, likely due to better hygiene and living conditions, and are instead at risk of contracting it genitally through oral sex after they become sexually active.

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What Are The Complications Of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes may cause painful genital ulcers that can be severe and persistent in persons with suppressed immune systems, such as HIV-infected persons. 5 Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can also cause rare but serious complications such as aseptic meningitis . 5 Development of extragenital lesions may occur during the course of infection. 5

There are also potential complications for a pregnant woman and her newborn child. See How does herpes infection affect a pregnant woman and her baby? below for information about this.

How Many People Have Herpes In The Us

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 48% of the population in the U.S. has HSV-1, while 12% has HSV-2.

It is possible that many more people have HSV-1 than this, since asymptomatic infections are common and many people get the virus in childhood and never know they have it. Herpes simplex viruses are not routinely tested for unless a person has complications.

Doctors do not necessarily test for the viruses even during outbreaks if the symptoms are clear. HSV-1 and HSV-2 do not always require medical care or treatment, although you should tell your doctor if you experience an outbreak or have other health concerns.

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Connecting Public Health Professionals With Trusted Information And Each Other

Here are the CDC’s answers to common questions about genital herpes. Find more questions and answers in Genital HerpesCDC Fact Sheet.

  • Genital herpes is a common STD, and most people with genital herpes infection do not know they have it.
  • You can get genital herpes from an infected partner, even if your partner has no herpes symptoms.
  • There is no cure for herpes, but medication is available to reduce symptoms and make it less likely that you will spread herpes to a sex partner.

Virus Shedding And Transmission

The Truth About Herpes!

Transmission is generally more likely when the infected partner is symptomatic because viral shedding is greater. Research shows that for HSV-2, shedding occurs:

  • 10.2% of days when asymptomatic
  • 20.1% of days when symptomatic

However, transmission can still commonly occur when the infected partner has no symptoms.

Among heterosexual couples with one infected partner, research has found that transmission was 10% over one year. The transmission occurred when the infected partner was asymptomatic 70% of those times.

This indicates that while viral shedding is higher when a person is symptomatic, prevention methods, even when they are asymptomatic, are equally important.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms

While some people realize that they have genital herpes, many do not. It is estimated that one in eight persons in the United States has genital herpes, but as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus. This is because many people have very mild symptoms that go unrecognized or are mistaken for another condition or no symptoms at all.

Because signs can vary a great deal, we recommend that an individual see a healthcare provider to be tested if they have a lesion of any kind. This can be swabbed for a culture test or for other sensitive tests.

A person may show symptoms within days after contracting genital herpes, or it may take weeks, months, or years. For this reason, it can be difficult for people to know when and from whom they may have contracted the virus.

The classic symptoms that most people associate with genital herpes are sores, vesicles, or ulcers all of which can also be called lesions. These classic lesions of genital herpes often resemble small pimples or blisters that eventually crust over and finally scab like a small cut. These lesions may take anywhere from two to four weeks to heal fully. During this time, some people will experience a second crop of lesions, and some will experience flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands, particularly in the lymph nodes near the groin. Headache and painful urination also sometimes accompany full-blown symptoms of first episodes.

Can Genital Herpes Be Cured

There is currently no cure for herpes. However, there are drugs that can make herpes outbreaks less painful and less frequent. Ask your doctor about these drugs. To aid the healing process, keep active herpes sores clean and dry. Do not touch other body parts with towels or washcloths used on the sores. Good hygiene is crucial because you can transmit herpes to other parts of your own body during an outbreak. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom or touching a herpes sore. Be sure your hands are clean before touching any area around your eyes.

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What Is Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 or type 2 .

Genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, 16.2 percent, or about one out of six, people aged 14 to 49 years have genital HSV-2 infection. Over the past decade, the percentage of persons with genital herpes infection in the United States has remained stable.

There are two types of HSV and both can cause the symptoms of genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly causes sores on the lips , but it can cause genital infections as well. HSV type 2 most often causes genital sores, but it also can infect the mouth. The virus remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, causing periodic symptoms in some people. Many people who are infected with HSV never develop any symptoms.

How Does Someone Get Herpes

The impact of herpes zoster and post

Herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. This happens when a contagious area comes into contact with a tiny break in the skin or mucous membrane tissue, usually on the mouth or genitals. Most skin on the body is too thick for the virus to go through.

Oral herpes can be passed on through kissing or oral sex. If a person with oral herpes performs oral sex, it is possible to pass along the infection to the partners genitals. If a person with genital herpes has sex, it is possible for his or her partner to get genital herpes. Any person who is sexually active can get genital herpes.

Genital herpes can be transmitted sexually both when symptoms are present and sometimes when symptoms are not present. There are several days throughout the year when the virus may be on the surface of the skin, but there are no symptoms. Herpes can be passed through sexual contact during this time.

There are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, bathtub, or towel. Herpes is a very fragile virus and does not live long on surfaces.

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How Many People Have Genital Herpes

It is not entirely clear how many people have genital herpes because many infected people do not have symptoms. However, researchers have created estimates based on available data.

According to the most recent 2018 estimates , 18.6 million people in the United States have genital herpes, with 572,000 new infections occurring yearly among people aged 18 to 49.

Genital Herpes By Age And Gender

In the United States, most new HSV-2 infections occur in people under 50 who tend to be more sexually active. Because genital herpes does not go away, the prevalence will increase with age.

Data from the National Center of Health Statistics demonstrates how the HSV-2 prevalence in the United States increases with age:

  • Age 14 to 19: 0.8% prevalence
  • Ages 20 to 29: 7.6% prevalence
  • Age 30 to 39: 13.3% prevalence
  • Ages 40 to 49: 21.2% prevalence

In short, the older you get, the more likely the odds of having herpes if you are sexually active and have risk factors for the disease.

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How Can I Reduce My Risk For Herpes

Any sexually active person may contract genital herpes. Aside from abstaining from sex or mutual monogamy with one uninfected partner, there are many options a couple may consider to reduce the risk of transmission.

Since one in eight persons is thought to have herpes and the majority of people dont know, if a partner has ever been sexually active, it is possible that she or he could unknowingly have the virus too. Accurate blood tests are available to determine whether a person has antibodies for HSV. Knowing a partners status can help a couple make a joint decision about whether they need to take steps to reduce the risk of transmitting HSV.

One antiviral medication for herpes, valacyclovir, has been shown to reduce the risk of herpes transmission. When a person with a history of recurrent genital herpes takes 500 mg of valacyclovir daily, it can reduce the risk of transmission to a partner who does not have the virus by 50%. Its likely that a combination of suppressive valacyclovir and condoms provides greater protection than either method alone.

We do not recommend regular use of the spermicide nonoxynol-9 as it can cause irritation in the genital area, making it easier for some STIs to be transmitted. If a spermicide is used, it should be used with a condom, not in place of one.

How Common Is Oral Herpes Hsv

Herpes Facts

Though this article focuses on genital herpes caused by HSV-2, oral herpes is extremely common. In fact, many cases of genital herpes are caused by oral herpes, nothing more than a cold sore or contagious period that passed to the genitals through oral sex.

  • 50-80% of Americans have oral herpes .
  • About 50% of new genital herpes infections in women are actually caused by oral herpes from HSV-1 .

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What Are Cold Sores Chickenpox Shingles And Genital Herpes

Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus that may be spread by kissing or other physical contact with the infected area of the skin. They are small, painful ulcers that you get in or around your mouth. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of cold sores to others.

Chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus called Varicella Zoster Virus . It causes an itchy rash of multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites usually appearing first on the abdomen or back and face. It can spread to almost everywhere else on the body and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.

Shingles is caused by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox. It causes small, painful blisters to appear on your skin. Shingles occurs in people who have already had chickenpox. Shingles can be spread to people who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine by contact with the infected areas of the skin. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of shingles to others.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It causes small, painful blisters on your genital area. You can spread genital herpes to others, even when you have no symptoms. If you are sexually active, you can still pass herpes to your partner, even if you are taking valacyclovir tablets. Valacyclovir tablets, taken every day as prescribed and used with the following safer sex practices, can lower the chances of passing genital herpes to your partner.

Eastern And South East Asia

HSV-1 seroprevalence in some Asian countries is low, relative to other countries worldwide, with only 51% women in Thailand, and between 50 and 60% in Japan possessing antibodies. HSV-2 seroprevalence in developing Asian countries is comparable to that observed in North America and Northern Europe. However, estimates of HSV-2 infectivity in Thailand are higher than observed in other Eastern Asian countries total HSV-2 seroprevalence is approximately 37% in this country. HSV-2 seroprevalence is low in women in the Philippines , although commencing activity while young is associated with an increase risk of acquiring HSV-2 infection woman starting sexual activity by the time they reach 17 are seven times more likely to be HSV-2 seropositive than those starting sexual activity when over 21.

In South Korea, incidence of HSV-2 infection in those under the age of 20 is low, only 2.7% in men and 3.0% in women. Seroprevalence levels increase in older South Koreans however, such that the population over 20 that has antibodies against HSV-2 is 21.7% of men and 28% of women.

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Herpes Facts And Statistics: What You Should Know

Genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , over half a million new HSV-2 infections occurred in the United States in 2018.

But, the actual number of cases may far exceed this estimate. This is because more and more genital herpes infections are being caused by a related virus known as herpes simplex virus type 1 , the type associated with cold sores.

What makes the scale of the epidemic all the more concerning is that most people with genital herpes do not know that they have it.

This article takes an in-depth look at the causes and scale of the genital herpes epidemic in the United States, including the risk factors and the groups disproportionately affected by infections. Learn facts about herpes.

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