Friday, March 22, 2024

How To Stop Genital Herpes Recurrence

Recognize The Early Symptoms

Herpes virus treatment

You might not be able to stop an outbreak, but you might be able to reduce the severity and length of it. Many people have warning signs of an outbreak, including itching, tingling, genital pain, or shooting pain in the legs, hips, or buttocks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . These signs can occur hours or days before the outbreak, so knowing them gives you the chance to treat the outbreak before it happens.

Treatment If The Blisters Come Back

Go to a GP or sexual health clinic if you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and need treatment for an outbreak.

Antiviral medicine may help shorten an outbreak by 1 or 2 days if you start taking it as soon as symptoms appear.

But outbreaks usually settle by themselves, so you may not need treatment.

Recurrent outbreaks are usually milder than the first episode of genital herpes.

Over time, outbreaks tend to happen less often and be less severe. Some people never have outbreaks.

Some people who have more than 6 outbreaks in a year may benefit from taking antiviral medicine for 6 to 12 months.

If you still have outbreaks of genital herpes during this time, you may be referred to a specialist.

How Is Genital Herpes Treated

There is no cure for genital herpes, but your doctor can prescribe anti-viral drugs that may help the sores heal faster.

Over-the-counter painkillers may help with the discomfort.

If recurrences of your genital herpes are frequent, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication , and to take on a regular basis to help suppress the outbreaks.

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Who Response To Herpes

As well as increasing awareness about HSV infection and its symptoms, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally.

In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly HSV vaccines. WHO and partners are working to accelerate research to develop new strategies for prevention and control of genital and neonatal HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections. Such research includes the development of HSV vaccines and topical microbicides. Several candidate vaccines and microbicides are currently being studied.

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I Am Positive What Should I Do

What happens during an outbreak?

When you get laboratory results stating that you have a herpes virus infection, you may feel panicked, confused and disappointed. However, you need to immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the herpes virus infection from getting worse.

Avoiding Foods Containing Arginine

Launching from The New Zealand Herpes Foundation, people with genital herpes are advised to avoid foods that contain arginine. Arginine is a type of semi-essential amino acid that is actually good for the body. But at the same time, the herpes virus makes this arginine a source of energy to grow and trigger symptoms.

Examples of foods that contain arginine include chocolate, peanuts, almonds, peanut butter, seeds, oats, and oats. Therefore, you should limit or even avoid these foods to prevent genital herpes from recurring.

Foods containing refined carbohydrates and sugar also have a similar effect. Refined carbohydrates such as pasta and white bread can suppress the immune system and actually make the body more susceptible to illness.

Likewise, when you eat sweet foods, the sugar content will fight vitamin C in the body. As a result, the body becomes overwhelmed to fight the herpes virus and exposes you to recurrent genital herpes.

Consuming More Lysine

Lysine is an essential amino acid that can reduce the amount of the herpes virus in the body. This type of amino acid works by inhibiting the work of arginine, so that the symptoms can be suppressed so they dont recur.

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Epidemiology Of Genital Hsv

The best HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence data in the United States have been generated by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey . Based on NHANES data collected from 2015-2016, the HSV-2 seroprevalence rate for that period was 12.1% for persons 14-49 years of age. The following summarizes several key features from the NHANES 2015-2016 report for HSV-2 seroprevalence for persons 14-19 years of age.

  • Seroprevalence Trends: There was a significant decline in the HSV-2 seroprevalence rate from 1999-2000 to 2015-2016 .
  • Sex: The HSV-2 seroprevalence was nearly 2-fold higher in females compared with males .
  • Age Groups: The HSV-2 seroprevalence increased with age, with significant continued increases in the different age groups from 14-49 years .
  • Racial/Ethnic Groups

    Facts And Statistics About Herpes

    • According to the World Health Organization, an estimated two-thirds of the global population under 50 years old are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 .
    • Estimates for HSV-1 prevalence in the U.S. among people aged 049 years are 178 million women and 142 million men .
    • In total, about 75 percent or more of the American adult population has the HSV-1 virus that usually causes oral herpes , and about 20 percent to 30 percent have HSV-2 that usually causes genital herpes.
    • Men and women are affected by HSV-1 about equally. Roughly 6 million women in the U.S. become infected with HSV-1 each year, along with 5 million men.
    • Slightly more women than men are affected by genital herpes, whether from HSV-1 or HSV-2. Middle-aged women are most likely to acquire genital herpes.
    • Transmission of HSV most often occurs without symptoms, so its estimated that 85 percent of people with genital herpes dont know it. Many dont have any symptoms at all after the initial infection, and only about 15 percent ever receive a HSV-2 infection diagnosis in their lifetimes.
    • Most primary oral/facial HSV infections are caused by HSV-1 however, facial infection by HSV-2 is increasingly becoming common.
    • Less children are becoming infected with HSV-1 than in the past in high-income countries, mostly due to better hygiene and living conditions.
    • After someone comes into contact with an active herpes outbreak on another person, the incubation period takes about one week.

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    Herpes Causes And Risk Factors

    Causes of herpes include acquiring the virus through sexual contact, coupled with immune system suppression and sometimes nutritional deficiencies.

    HSV-1 is primarily transmitted by oral-oral contact. On the other hand, HSV-2 is considered a sexually transmitted disease and usually passed during oral or vaginal sex.

    A scary finding is that more cases of genital herpes than ever before are now being caused by HSV-1 , and about 85 percent of people with genital herpes dont even know it. Studies show that about 50 percent of the new genital herpes infections in young adults are due to HSV-1 and about 40 percent in older adults. The fact that most people dont ever find out theyre infected is one of the reasons that transmission rates are steadily climbing.

    Risk factors for acquiring herpes include:

    • Kissing someone who has symptoms of an active herpes virus
    • Engaging in any form of unprotected sex
    • Having sex with multiple partners
    • Spreading the virus through contact with cold sores on the eyes, secretions on the fingers, or ulcers/sores on buttocks and upper thighs
    • Having certain other illnesses that lower immune function, such as HIV/AIDS, an autoimmune disorder or hepatitis
    • Eating a poor diet that causes nutrient deficiencies and lowered immunity
    • Smoking cigarettes, drinking high amounts of alcohol or abusing drugs

    Best Vitamin D Supplement: Pure Encapsulations D3 Liquid

    How Do I Treat Nasal Herpes
    • Pros: vitamin D can support the immune system, easy to take
    • Cons: expensive, delivers above recommended daily dose of vitamin D

    This vitamin D3 tincture is free of gluten and genetically modified organisms and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

    Pure Encapsulations claims this product may help improve cardiovascular and immune health and support bone, prostate, and colon function.

    The serving size of this tincture is five drops. The product labeling states each serving contains 25 micrograms of vitamin D3.

    This product is suitable for vegans who want to supplement their food with more vitamin D3, especially those who prefer a liquid form rather than a tablet.

    Pure Encapsulations D3 Liquid cost $34.95.

    • Pros: may support the immune system, can be added to drinks
    • Cons: delivers significantly more vitamin E than daily allowances recommend

    These raw vitamin E capsules do not contain any GMOs, synthetic binders, fillers, or artificial flavors. Additional ingredients of this product include fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K, and selenium.

    Garden of Life claims these vitamin supplements can help support eye and immune health.

    This product is also suitable for vegetarians.

    The company recommends people take two capsules daily, either with or without food. A person can also break the capsules apart and add the powder to their drinks.

    Each serving size has the following nutritional facts:

    • Vitamin A: 900 mcg

    Medical professionals may also recommend prescription gels or ointments.

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    Treatment For Oral Herpes

    The antiviral medications available in pill form have been specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. However, it is not uncommon for healthcare providers to prescribe the antiviral drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes.

    A recent study found valacyclovir to be effective for treating oral herpes in a one-day treatment of 2 grams taken at the first sign of a cold sore, and then again about 12 hours later.

    There are two topical antiviral medications prescribed for the treatment of oral HSV symptoms: acyclovir ointment and penciclovir cream. Both work to speed up the healing process and reduce the viral activity. These topical drugs are put directly on the lesions themselves, but can also be used at the onset of prodrome.

    Other topical treatments for oral herpes are available over-the-counter , but are not antiviral compounds like acyclovir and penciclovir. Some also contain ingredients that numb the area and induce temporary relief from the discomfort of an outbreak. Unfortunately, some OTC treatments may actually delay the healing time of symptoms because they can further irritate the area with repeated applications. There is only one OTC FDA-approved cream, called Abreva®, which has been clinically proven to help speed the healing process.

    Genital Herpes Treatment To Reduce Itching And Pain In The Infected Area

    Genital herpes, also called herpes, is a viral infection caused by herpes simplex viruses .

    Two types of viruses are associated with genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

    It is found that one out of every five in the United States is infected with genital herpes.

    More than 45 million Americans are affected with genital herpes.

    Currently, you have no genital herpes treatment available to cure the disease.

    However, home remedies can heal the herpes symptoms and improves your immune system to prevent the re-emergence of the disease.

    On the other hand, there are antiviral medications to treat the disease. Zovirax , Famvir and Valtrex .

    Therefore, the aim of genital herpes treatment is to reduce the symptoms. Moreover, it has no side effects.

    Genital herpes is one of the most common sexual transmitted diseases that can spread from person-to-person through direct contact in the infected region, including unprotected sexual activity, kissing or skin-to-skin contact.

    The other sexual transmitted diseases are gonorrhea , chlamydia , HIV/AIDS, pelvic inflammatory disease and many more.

    Generally, herpes simplex virus type-1 causes fever blisters in and around the mouth and is acquired from person to person through kissing whereas herpes simplex virus type-2 is the major cause for genital herpes that affects the genital area. HSV-1 causes genital herpes in rare cases.

    On the other hand, make use of a cool tea bag and apply it on the infected area. Throw the bag out immediately after use.

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    How Can I Protect Myself From Herpes

    To prevent getting genital herpes:

    • Do not have sex with someone who has an open sore on their sex organs.
    • Always use a condom during sex.
    • Limit your number of sex partners.

    Taking antiviral medications can reduce the risk of a person with genital herpes from spreading the disease, but that doesn’t eliminate the risk. Be sure to practice the measures listed above to decrease risk.

    Genital Herpes Is Spread By Skin

    Outsmarting Herpes: Researchers Use The Body

    The virus can be spread when someone with HSV has an episode or an outbreak characterised by having a sore, blister, ulcer or skin split . It can also be spread between episodes, when there is no sore, blister, ulcer or skin split present called asymptomatic viral shedding.

    During viral shedding the virus is on the skin surface and can be spread through genital skin-to-skin contact, or from the mouth or face to genital skin during contact.

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    Where Does The Herpes Virus Live In The Body

    The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together. For the genital area, the ganglia are adjacent to the spinal cord in the lower back. For orofacial herpes , the ganglia are located behind the cheek bone.

    Frequently Asked Questionsexpand All

    People with HSV-2 infection have an increased risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus if they have sex with an HIV-infected partner. Taking suppressive therapy does not decrease this risk.

  • How can the herpes virus affect pregnancy?

    If a woman is pregnant and infected with HSV, it can be passed to the fetus during birth while passing through the womans infected birth canal. This is most likely to occur if a woman first becomes infected with HSV during pregnancy and in a woman who has her first outbreak late in pregnancy. But it also can occur during a recurrent outbreak in a woman who was infected before pregnancy, although the risk is much lower.

    If you have sores or warning signs of an outbreak at the time of delivery, you may need to have a cesarean delivery to reduce chance of infection. The decision depends on many factors, including where the sores are on your body and whether the fetus would come into contact with them during delivery.

  • Can I still breastfeed my baby if I have the herpes virus?

    Yes, in most cases. The herpes virus cannot be passed to a baby through breast milk. However, the baby could get infected by touching a sore on your body. Make sure any sores that the baby could come into contact with are covered when you hold your baby or while breastfeeding. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after feeding your baby. If you have sores on your breast, you should not breastfeed your baby from that breast.

  • Article continues below

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    How Often Do Herpes Outbreaks Occur

    How often herpes outbreaks occur will depend on what might trigger them and your individual health status at the time. You may have several herpes outbreaks in a year or sometimes herpes outbreaks can come close together.

    In other cases, herpes outbreaks may not happen very often. You may not have a herpes outbreak until months or even years after the first infection. You may have just a single genital herpes outbreak and then no further symptoms.

    Genital Herpes During Pregnancy

    Herpes Simplex

    Prevention of neonatal herpes depends both on preventing acquisition of genital herpes during late pregnancy and avoiding exposure of the neonate to herpetic lesions and viral shedding during delivery. Mothers of newborns who acquire neonatal herpes often lack histories of clinically evident genital herpes . The risk for transmission to the neonate from an infected mother is high among women who acquire genital herpes near the time of delivery and low among women with prenatal histories of recurrent herpes or who acquire genital herpes during the first half of pregnancy . Women who acquire HSV in the second half of pregnancy should be managed in consultation with maternal-fetal medicine and infectious disease specialists.

    All pregnant women should be asked whether they have a history of genital herpes or genital symptoms concerning for HSV infection. At the onset of labor, all women should be questioned thoroughly about symptoms of genital herpes, including prodromal symptoms , and all women should be examined thoroughly for herpetic lesions. Women without symptoms or signs of genital herpes or its prodrome can deliver vaginally. Although cesarean delivery does not eliminate the risk for HSV transmission to the neonate , women with recurrent genital herpetic lesions at the onset of labor should have a cesarean delivery to reduce the risk for neonatal HSV infection.

    Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/dayORValacyclovir 500 mg orally 2 times/day

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    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.

    Herpes Symptoms And Signs

    In order to diagnose herpes, a health care provider can swab an area of visibly active herpes infection or, if symptoms arent active, a blood test can be given that measures the number of herpes antibodies present in the body. The antibodies dont indicate herpes itself, but rather show the immune systems response to the presence of the virus in the body. Its important to note that sometimes a swab can give false negative results since herpes lesions need to be large enough to yield enough detectable virus and if the outbreak is already healing it also may not be detected in a swab.

    The most common herpes symptoms include:

    • Developing either a single cold sore or cluster of multiple cold sores that form on the lips, inside the mouth, or on the genitals, buttocks and upper thighs.
    • Sores can sometimes be severe, painful and rupture and cause fluid to be secreted out.
    • Some herpes canker sores develop a thin, white coating and burn when touched while they healing.
    • Around herpes cold sores, its common to feel pain, tenderness and other symptoms of a rash, such as redness or signs of swelling.
    • Some people are able to tell before an outbreak if one is going to occur because they feel tingling, itchy sensations near the affected area.
    • Some people develop other symptoms during herpes outbreaks that are similar to those caused by a cold or the flu. This may include fatigue, irritability, aches or a slight fever.

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