Thursday, March 21, 2024

How Do You Get Herpes From Oral

What Is The Difference Between Oral Herpes And Genital Herpes

How Herpes Can Actually Be Good For You

Lets get one thing out of the way right now, oral herpes and genital herpes are not medical terms, they simply refer to where on the body a specific strain of the virus is located, and as weve already covered, HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in either location

There are three key differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2: Stigma, location, and antibodies.

1) Stigma

Its already pretty bad by societys standards to have oral herpes, but its oftentimes just the brunt of bad jokes, rather than something to actually be feared.

Genital herpes , on the other hand, seems to be the end of the world. Thats the one that people like to categorize as really bad. Folks that are diagnosed with genital herpes often assume that their lives are over, in fact, they may as well lockdown and marry the next person that deems them lovable . But why does society make it such a big deal?

2) Location

Location, location, location. Literally nothing else. One is not worse than the other, more contagious than the other, or dirtier than the other. They. Are. The. Same.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 are two different strains of the same virus. HSV-1 will usually cause oral herpes because it prefers to be located orally, and HSV-2 will usually cause genital herpes because it prefers to be located genitally.

3) Antibodies

We can not stress this enough: Both types of herpes are commonly asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms at all. And when symptoms appear, it can be years after the initial infection!

Is Oral Herpes A Std

Although HSV-1 isn’t technically an STD, you can potentially catch the virus through sex. If you receive oral sex from a person with HSV-1, there’s a risk that the virus could make its way into your body through their saliva. When you acquire HSV-1 through oral sex, it leads to genital herpes rather than cold sores.

When Does A Cold Sore Stop Being Contagious

Technically, never. You could still spread the virus after your cold sore heals however, the active lesions are more contagious. Realistically, you should wait to engage in oral sex until after the cold sores are completely healed, which can take anywhere from 26 weeks. You should also abstain from oral sex, kissing, sharing eating utensils, lip balm, etc., until your outbreak is totally gone. This can take anywhere from 26 weeks .

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Testing For Genital Herpes

If you think you may have genital herpes you should make an appointment with your GP or local sexual health services.

If there are symptoms present such as blisters, sores and ulcers, your doctor or nurse may be able to make a diagnosis straight away.

If you have visible blisters, your doctor or nurse may take a swab for testing, to check if this is herpes and what type. This swab can also test for another STI which causes blisters called syphilis.

The genital herpes swab tests are very reliable, though if the ulcer is too dry then it may be less likely to find a positive result.

What If I Am Pregnant

Herpes (Herpes Simplex)

It is important to tell your obstetrician that you or a partner have had genital herpes, so that they can monitor you for symptoms and manage your pregnancy safely. There is a risk you can pass the virus on to your baby if you have a vaginal delivery during a first attack of genital herpes. If this happens you may be recommended to have a caesarean delivery.

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Is There A Cure For Herpes Simplex

There is no cure for herpes simplex. Once you have the virus, its a lifelong infection.

What is the outlook for people with herpes simplex?

For many people, the first herpes outbreak is the most severe. Many outbreaks are less frequent and milder after the first year of infection. Some people may have only one outbreak and never have another again.

Herpes infection doesnt usually pose a serious health risk. The risk of a health complication due to herpes is higher in infants and if you have HIV/AIDS, cancer or an organ transplant.

How Common Is Genital Herpes

Genital herpes infection is common in the United States. CDC estimated that there were 572,000 new genital herpes infections in the United States in a single year.1 Nationwide, 11.9 % of persons aged 14 to 49 years have HSV-2 infection .2 However, the prevalence of genital herpes infection is higher than that because an increasing number of genital herpes infections are caused by HSV-1. 3 Oral HSV-1 infection is typically acquired in childhood because the prevalence of oral HSV-1 infection has declined in recent decades, people may have become more susceptible to contracting a genital herpes infection from HSV-1. 4

HSV-2 infection is more common among women than among men the percentages of those infected during 2015-2016 were 15.9% versus 8.2% respectively, among 14 to 49 year olds. 2 This is possibly because genital infection is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men during penile-vaginal sex. 5 HSV-2 infection is more common among non-Hispanic blacks than among non-Hispanic whites . 2 A previous analysis found that these disparities, exist even among persons with similar numbers of lifetime sexual partners. Most infected persons may be unaware of their infection in the United States, an estimated 87.4% of 14 to 49 year olds infected with HSV-2 have never received a clinical diagnosis. 6

The age-adjusted percentage of persons in the United States infected with HSV-2 decreased from 18.0% in 19992000 to 12.1% in 2015-2016. 2

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How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby

Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11

Is There Any Resistance To Genital Herpes Medication

How to treat cold sores

Resistance to drugs that treat genital herpes even after 20 years of use is very rare. Herpes medications may not work as well in patients who are very immunosuppressed and have been treated with these drugs for a long time. Each individuals response to treatment may vary. In some cases, patients may need more drugs to suppress their viral outbreaks than others.

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How Is Herpes Spread

HSV-1 is usually passed from person to person by kissing. HSV-1 can also spread from the mouth to the genitals during oral sex . If this happens, it becomes a case of genital herpes.

HSV-2 cannot survive long on a non-living surface, so there is no real risk of getting it from a toilet seat or hot tub, for example.

Continued

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Can A Child Get Herpes From A Parent

A chip off the old block, a kid inherit a lot of his or her parents quirks, such as eye and hair color. According to new evidence, parents may also pass on a common virus to their children.

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, analyzed DNA from more than 1,000 children born to parents who had been infected with the herpes simplex virus type 1 during pregnancy.

The researchers found that the children of infected mothers were more likely to carry the virus in their blood than those of non-infected mothers. They also found a strong genetic correlation between the presence of HSV in a mothers blood and her childs risk of developing genital herpes, the most common type of sexually transmitted infection in men and women.

In addition, children whose mothers had herpes at the time of their birth were twice as likely as other children to have the disease as adults, according to the study, which was funded by the U.S.

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Im Pregnant How Could Genital Herpes Affect My Baby

If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, prenatal care visits are very important. Some research suggest that a genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage or make it more likely to deliver your baby too early. You can pass herpes to your unborn child before birth, but it more commonly passes during delivery. This can lead to a deadly infection in your baby . It is important that you avoid getting genital herpes during pregnancy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had a genital herpes diagnosis or symptoms. Also tell them about any possible exposure to genital herpes.

If you have genital herpes, you may need to take anti-herpes medicine towards the end of your pregnancy. This medicine may reduce your risk of having signs or symptoms of genital herpes when you deliver. At the time of delivery, your healthcare provider should carefully examine you for herpes sores. If you have signs or symptoms of genital herpes at delivery, a C-section is likely to occur.

Pregnancy And Genital Herpes

Symptoms of Throat Herpes

It is important to inform your doctor if you are pregnant and have previously been diagnosed with genital herpes or are experiencing symptoms. There is a chance that babies born via vaginal delivery to infected mothers during an outbreak can be exposed to the virus, which may cause brain damage, blindness or death for the newborn. But vaginal childbirth without an outbreak is possible.

A doctor may recommend that you take antiviral medications during the later stages of pregnancy to prevent an outbreak coinciding with delivery. If an outbreak is present when you are going into labor, the doctor may suggest undergoing a cesarean section to reduce the risk of passing the virus to your baby.

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How Will My Healthcare Provider Know If I Have Genital Herpes

Your healthcare provider may diagnose genital herpes by simply looking at any sores that are present. Providers can also take a sample from the sore and test it. If sores are not present, a blood test may be used to look for HSV antibodies.

Have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider about herpes testing and other STDs.

Please note: A herpes blood test can help determine if you have herpes infection. It cannot tell you who gave you the infection or when you got the infection.

How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed

HSV nucleic acid amplification tests are the most sensitive and highly specific tests available for diagnosing herpes. However, in some settings viral culture is the only test available. The sensitivity of viral culture can be low, especially among people who have recurrent or healing lesions. Because viral shedding is intermittent, it is possible for someone to have a genital herpes infection even though it was not detected by NAAT or culture. 11

Type-specific virologic tests can be used for diagnosing genital herpes when a person has recurrent symptoms or lesion without a confirmatory NAAT, culture result, or has a partner with genital herpes. Both virologic tests and type-specific serologic tests should be available in clinical settings serving patients with, or at risk for, sexually transmitted infections. 11

Given performance limitations with commercially available type-specific serologic tests , a confirmatory test with a second method should be performed before test interpretation. If confirmatory tests are unavailable, patients should be counseled about the limitations of available testing before serologic testing. Healthcare providers should also be aware that false-positive results occur. In instances of suspected recent acquisition, serologic testing within 12 weeks after acquisition may be associated with false negative test results. 11

Providers are strongly encouraged to look at CDCs STI Treatment Guidelines for further diagnostic considerations.

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Does Genital Herpes Hurt

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Sexual contact is the primary way that the virus spreads. After the initial infection, the virus lies dormant in your body and can reactivate several times a year. Genital herpes can cause pain, itching and sores in your genital area. But you may have no signs or symptoms of genital herpes.

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How Are Cold Sores Treated

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Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days. But if they cause pain or make you feel embarrassed, they can be treated. Treatment may include skin creams, ointments, or sometimes pills. Starting treatment right away may get rid of the cold sores only 1 to 2 days faster, but it can also help ease painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cant be cured. After you get infected, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. If you get cold sores often, treatment can reduce the number of cold sores you get and how severe they are.

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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 happens if I dont treat a cold sore?
  • 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 lookout for signs of complications?

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.

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What Happens If I Dont Get Treated

Genital herpes can cause painful genital sores and can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.

If you touch your sores or the fluids from the sores, you may transfer herpes to another part of your body, such as your eyes. Do not touch the sores or fluids to avoid spreading herpes to another part of your body. If you do touch the sores or fluids, immediately wash your hands thoroughly to help avoid spreading your infection.

If you are pregnant, there can be problems for you and your developing fetus, or newborn baby. See Im pregnant. How could genital herpes affect my baby? above for information about this.

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Cold Sores On Lips Vs Angular Cheilitis

Pin on Herpes Cure

These two are:

Cold sores or herpes labialis

img source: prod-carehubs.net

What causes cold sores or fever blisters? They are caused mainly by the herpes simplex virus type 1 .

Symptoms of HSV-1 on lips usually start with a burning, itchiness and tingling or tautness on lips or around the mouth. Due to irritation, the area is likely to turn red and small blister or tiny clusters of blisters that itch.

How long do cold sores last? They usually heal after a period of 2 to 3 weeks from infection time or when transmission of the HSV -1 virus occurs.

The symptoms will tend to vary with each stage of herpes simplex on lips. For instance, if individuals show the early signs of fever blisters during the first episode, they usually develop fever or illness depending on how severe the infection is.

If you have recurring fever blisters or cold sore symptoms, the following may be responsible for the activation of the virus after initial breakouts on your lips or face.

  • Medical conditions like anemia, and Down syndrome
  • Overactive salivary glands or if your mouth holds a lot of saliva

However, angular cheilitis is not a symptom of HIV since it is due to the compromised immune system that puts one at risk of it. Angular cheilitis can also last for days or possibly years.

Angular cheilitis symptoms

Like cold sores on lips, AC can also be symptomized by blistering, redness and swelling on the mouth corners.

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This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 125,951 times.

Herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Once the virus enters ones body, it will always remain there by hiding in the nerve roots. When ones immunity is lowered, it will result in outbreak. Sores usually take about 1-2 weeks to heal, but there are some things that you can do to speed the healing process. Things like allowing your sores to be exposed to air, talking to your doctor about medications, and using ointments may help speed healing time. There are also some things that you can do to reduce and prevent outbreaks, such as reducing prolonged exposure to sunlight, reducing friction during sex, and managing stress.

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