How Is Herpes Meningoencephalitis Treated
Treating the cause of your infection is the primary treatment. Since most cases of meningoencephalitis are caused by the herpes virus, the antiviral acyclovir is used to treat it. You may need to take this medicine through an intravenous line for 10 to 14 days. Your healthcare provider may also give you medicine to reduce swelling in the brain and to treat or prevent seizures.
Healthcare providers may treat babies with this disease with acyclovir for several weeks.
Depending on the severity of your infection, you may need to be treated in the hospital.
Penile And Vaginal Discharge
Bodily discharge is sometimes commonly associated with genital herpes. It occurs in men and women who experience recurrent outbreaks of herpes. The term discharge refers to the leaking or emission of fluid from a humans genitalia or sex organs. In a male, the herpes discharge is emitted from the penile head, whereas in a woman, herpes vaginal discharge leaks out from the vaginal opening.
In both cases, whether it is herpes vaginal discharge or penal discharge, the appearance of the liquid may be clear and thin or it can be a murky and thick fluid. In addition to the colorless fluid, some people may even observe a small amount of blood leak from either of the sex organs in the discharge or during urination.
Alternative And Complementary Therapies
Although its not known for certain what triggers herpes outbreaks, they are often associated with fatigue, stress, and illness. Mind-body interventions that reduce stress, such as meditation and yoga, may therefore be helpful in reducing outbreaks.
Getting adequate sleep and following a nutritious diet are also important for maintaining a healthy immune system and helpful for managing life stresses.
Certain supplements and herbal remedies have been tried for preventing herpes outbreaks or easing the symptoms of an outbreak. To date, however, theres insufficient data to conclude that any of them is safe and effective for this use.
If you wish to try a complementary therapy for genital herpes, speak to your doctor first to make sure the product you want to try wont interfere with any medications or other therapies youre currently using.
Read Also: Does Shingrix Help With Herpes Simplex
Treatment Options For Genital Herpes
Acyclovir was the first antiviral agent to be used in the treatment of genital herpes, and as such, is the most extensively studied of the antiviral agents currently available. This drug is available in topical, oral, and intravenous forms . In the distant past, topical acyclovir was used to treat recurrent genital herpes, but its ineffectiveness has been known for quite some time. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found that after application of topical acyclovir 6 times daily for 5 days, only the duration of virus shedding from lesions was reduced compared to placebo. Differences between time to lesion crusting, lesion healing, new lesion formation, and cessation of pain were non-significant .
Intravenous acyclovir remains the most effective form of treatment for a primary genital herpes infection, leading to significant reduction in time to cessation of viral shedding and pain. Time to lesion healing is also 6 days faster than with placebo alone . However, as IV administration of acyclovir requires hospitalization, this route is reserved for patients with life-threatening disease or systemic complications .
Oral agents
Also Check: How Can Herpes Be Detected
Research And Statistics: Who Has Genital Herpes
Its estimated that each year, 776,000 people in the United States get new genital herpes infections. Genital herpes is most often caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 .
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , the prevalence of HSV-2 was 11.9 percent during 2015 and 2016, a decline of 5.9 percentage points from the years 1999 and 2000.
HSV-2 is more common in women than in men. Its suspected that women are more likely to contract the HSV-2 infection because genital infection is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men during penile-vaginal sex.
Read Also: How Do You Know If You Got Herpes
Vaginal Discharge Is Not A Symptom Of Herpes
Although vaginal discharge is not a commonly associated symptom of genital herpes, in rare cases, those who experience recurrent outbreaks may also get discharge. Herpes discharge in females often looks like a thick and clear white or partially cloudy liquid, similar to chlamydia discharge. This symptom will usually occur in tandem with blisters and other symptoms during an outbreak.
The liquid is often accompanied by a strong odour, which can become more pronounced or pungent after engaging in sexual activity. Women infected with the herpes virus may also notice some blood or discharge in their urine.
Whilst vaginal discharge is possible in the event of a HSV-2 outbreak, it is rare. In order to rule out the possibility of other STIs such as chlamydia, a woman experiencing significant vaginal discharge should consult a medical professional.
How To Prevent Herpes Outbreaks
Herpes in women can be contained, not cured. In order to reduce the duration, severity and frequency of outbreaks, the following preventive measures should be taken:
- Keep stress in check. While influencing factors can vary from woman to woman, exposure to extreme environments that create stress on the body should be reduced. This includes physical or emotional stimulus which promotes cortisol production in the body and triggers the nerve response that could encourage reactivation of the virus. Other common triggers include infections, hormones, exposure to UV light and certain medication.
- Mind the diet. Certain diets may impede the frequency of herpes outbreaks in women. Alcohol, coffee, nuts, popcorn, and chocolate may encourage HSV-2 flare-ups, and some studies indicate that the amino acid arginine â found in grains and legumes â may encourage flare-ups. When monitoring dietary changes, it is important to note that every woman may experience differing triggers.
- Consult a physician. Medication such as aciclovir and valaciclovir can restrict the frequency of outbreaks, and any changes to medications or herbal supplements should be brought to the attention of a healthcare professional to determine the potential implications associated with the herpes virus.
Recommended Reading: Does Genital Herpes Cure Itself
Check If Your Vaginal Discharge Is Normal
Vaginal discharge is not usually anything to worry about if it:
- does not have a strong or unpleasant smell
- is clear or white
- is slippery and wet
You can get vaginal discharge at any age.
The amount of discharge varies. You usually get heavier discharge during pregnancy, if you’re sexually active or if you’re using birth control. It’s often slippery and wet for a few days between your periods .
Talking To Your Healthcare Provider About Herpes Discharge
Talking about changes in your genital health can be uncomfortable. Most people consider these topics private and have difficulty discussing them, especially with problems like a foul odor or blisters. There is also a stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections.
You can only confirm a diagnosis of herpes by testing the fluid from blisters or having a blood test done by a healthcare provider. They are trained to care for all types of bodies, organs, and diseases. Don’t be afraid to ask for help to protect your health and your sexual partners.
While most outbreaks can be managed without medical help, you should call your healthcare provider if your herpes outbreak comes with symptoms like:
Some of the best ways to prevent the spread of herpes are to:
- Abstain from sexual contact
- Avoid sexual contact with infected partners
Barrier methods like condoms can reduce the transmission of the herpes virus, but do not prevent it. While herpes can be transmitted at any time it is most contagious during periods of active symptoms. You should avoid sexual contact if you or an infected partner are experiencing an outbreak.
You May Like: How To Get Genital Herpes To Heal Faster
Complications Of Cold Sores
Cold sores are usually mild, but may cause complications in rare cases. People with weak immune systems caused by illness or treatments such as chemotherapy are particularly at risk of complications.
Dehydration sometimes occurs if drinking fluids becomes painful. Young children are particularly at risk of becoming dehydrated.
The herpes simplex virus can also spread to other parts of your body. Examples of when this can occur include:
- skin infections these often occur if the virus comes into contact with broken skin, such as a cut or graze, or a skin condition such as eczema
- herpetic whitlow this causes painful sores and blisters to appear on and around your fingers
- herpetic keratoconjunctivitis this causes swelling and irritation of your eye area and sores to develop on your eyelids
Left untreated, herpetic keratoconjunctivitis can cause the cornea, the transparent layer at the front of your eye, to become infected, which can eventually lead to blindness.
It’s therefore important not to touch your eyes if you have an unhealed cold sore. If you must touch your eyes for example, to remove contact lenses wash your hands thoroughly first.
In very rare cases, encephalitis, a condition where the brain becomes inflamed and swollen, can be caused by the cold sore virus spreading to the brain. It can be treated with intravenous injections of antiviral medications, such as aciclovir.
Coping With Your Feelings
Finding out that you have genital herpes may cause you to have negative thoughts or feelings about yourself or about sex, such as:
- Feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
- Being afraid of the consequences of the infection.
- Being angry at the person who infected you.
- Feeling frustrated with treatment or recurrent outbreaks.
- Feeling scared to have sex.
A counselor or support groups for people with herpes may be helpful.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Herpes On Vagina
Which Stds Can Cause Abnormal Vaginal Odor
Often, the STDs associated with abnormal vaginal odor are the same ones that cause abnormal vaginal discharge.
STDs that can cause an unusual smell include:
- Trichomoniasis, a common STD caused by a protozoan parasite
STDcheck.com offers testing for all of the above infections, either individually or in addition to other STDs. You can add on trichomoniasis testing during the checkout process or order it by itself by calling 1-800-456-2323.
Should You Be Concerned
Its common to be worried whether your vaginal odor is normal, and typically it is. However, if you notice persistent, strong or foul vaginal odorsespecially along with changes in the color or texture of discharge or other symptoms like itching or pain you may want to get tested and talk to a care provider.3
You May Like: Does The Military Test For Herpes
What Does Genital Herpes Look Like When It’s Healing
As your herpes outbreak comes to an end, your herpes sores will begin to crust over, scab like a small cut, and eventually go away. The sores can take a week or more to heal.
Your nurse or doctor can give you herpes medicine to help prevent or treat outbreaks, and there are ointments that can help make your sores heal faster and hurt less.
How To Get Rid Of Herpes 13 Home Remedies To Treat Herpes Outbreak Naturally
Sponsored by Impower Solutions What is Herpes and its symptoms? Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Herpes Simplex Virus herpes What triggers an outbreak?herpesCommon triggers for outbreaks are a weak immune system 13 Home Remedies to Treat Herpes Naturallyherpes
Prevention Tips
Also Check: Can Herpes Be Treated Naturally
Other Impacts Of Genital Herpes
It’s important to also remember that there are mental and social impacts of having an incurable STI. Many people with recurrent genital herpes symptoms may feel stigmatized or fearful of pursuing sexual relationships. But people should remember, while genital herpes is not curable, it is manageable, and the outbreaks often decrease over time.
Most people live healthy happy lives with genital herpes .
to track your sex life and herpes symptoms using custom tags.
When To See A Doctor
See a doctor as soon as possible if you notice genital discharge that may be associated with herpes or any other STI.
A diagnosis can help you understand how herpes affects you and start taking preventive measures to keep from spreading the infection to anyone with whom you have sex.
Getting treatment for herpes outbreaks can help reduce the severity of your symptoms and also might help limit how many outbreaks you have throughout your lifetime.
Heres how to decrease the chances of getting or spreading herpes when you have sex:
- Use protection whenever you have oral sex, such as a dental dam or penile condom.
- Limit or avoid sex if you or a partner are having an outbreak of symptoms.
Read Also: Can Herpes Outbreak Heal Without Medication
How Common Is Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a very common STI, but since many people are asymptomatic or are in a phase between visible outbreaks, it is perceived as less common than it actually is.
Genital herpes caused by HSV-2 is estimated to the second-most prevalent STI in the United States of America, affecting almost 24 million people between 15 and 49 years of age .
But this estimate only accounts for people with the HSV-2 virus. Since genital herpes is increasingly being caused by HSV-1 , the amount of people with genital herpes infections is likely even higher.
Worldwide, a range of 274-678 million people aged 15 to 49 years old are estimated to be living with HSV-2, with a global prevalence of around 1 in 10 people having HSV-2 .
More women than men are affected by HSV-2 this is because herpes is more easily transmitted to the female partner during sex .
Since genital herpes cannot be cured, the number of infected people in a population can only grow as more and more people become infected. The only way to reduce genital herpes within a population is through prevention.
Oral herpes caused by HSV-1 can also be a source of genital herpes. Across the world, it is estimated that 2 out of 3 people under 50 years of ageâaround 3.7 billion peopleâare infected with HSV-1 .
Prognosis Of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes can be treated and managed. Baill stresses that for most people who have healthy immune systems, the high-risk times for giving a sex partner genital herpes are during the first outbreak and during later outbreaks of sores.
Without such an outbreak, the viral load is usually not sufficient to infect a normal, healthy partner, she says. Antiviral medication can be effective at controlling the frequency and the severity of genital herpes outbreaks, Baill says.
For some people, though, even the times when no symptoms are present can be risky ones for transmission.
If you have genital herpes and your partner is taking biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis or MS or psoriasis, you may need to be extra careful, says Baill. It may take a lower viral load to infect people taking those medications.
In these situations, she says, you may want to take antiviral drugs in an ongoing way to keep your viral load low and protect your partner.
You May Like: Over The Counter Lip Herpes Medication
Yeast Infection Vs Herpes
There are some similarities between yeast infection and herpes but take note that those are very different things. There are certain situations wherein you may assume that your case may be HSV, but rest assured that it is mostly just Candidiasis. On the other hand, patients who display symptoms of herpes may think they have vaginal candidiasis because of any soreness. Still, they are not infected.
Although they are similar, there are more differences between the two conditions than the things that they have in common.
When To Seek Care
Home remedies may be enough to help you get through an outbreak before it heals and goes away.
But seek immediate medical attention if herpes symptoms are disruptive to your daily life or if youre experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Sores or blisters dont go away on their own after 2 weeks or get worse over time.
- Pain or discomfort becomes severe and distracting, even with home treatment.
- You have severe symptoms like a fever that dont get any better for more than a week.
- You have severe pain or discomfort when you urinate or have a bowel movement.
- You feel any hardness or lumps under the skin around the infected area or in your genital area.
- You have trouble passing urine or stool or cant do either without severe pain or obstruction.
Don’t Miss: What Dies Genital Herpes Look Like
Abnormal Discharge With Blisters Around The Genitals
Genital herpes can cause painful, red blisters or sores to appear around your genitals, as well as an abnormal vaginal discharge. See your GP or go to a genitourinary medicine clinic as soon as possible.
You may be offered a course of antiviral tablets, which stop the herpes virus multiplying, but the symptoms may have a tendency to return.