The Herpes Simplex Virus - The Culprit Behind Cold Sores

                

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Do you suffer from cold sores or the herpes simplex virus? If so, you are certainly not alone. An estimated 100 million Americans have acquired the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) which causes cold sores. These mouth sores can be a real pain to say the least. A cold sore is a small reddish or purple blister that is the end result of the herpes virus flaring up in your body. There are two types of Herpes Simplex Virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Let's take a look at the differences between the two and how they can affect you.

HSV-2

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 is the strain of the virus that causes genital herpes. Approximately 22% of American adults have HSV-2. What is even more frightening is the fact that two thirds of them do not even realize it and can be continuing to further spread the virus. It is spread by those who are having an active outbreak having unprotected sex with those who do not have it. With that said though, even having protected sex offers no guarantee that the virus will not be passed.

HSV-1

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 is the form of herpes that causes mouth sores. Because the herpes simplex virus is highly contagious, you should always avoid skin-to-skin contact with an open cold sore in order to avoid getting the virus.

Also, any kind of herpes virus is dangerous to newborns. It can easily be spread to the baby in the first weeks of life if he or she is kissed by someone with an active cold sore (oral herpes).

Early action in treating a cold sore during the initial tingling or burning stage may help in stopping the blister from forming, or help the cold sore heal faster once it has formed. They will generally clear up without treatment in seven to 10 days. Most people don't need treatment, since they go away on their own, but some over the counter medications can offer some relief. The key with these medicines is to begin treatment before the blister appears. If you wait until after it has already formed or broken open, it will be too late.

Keep in mind that cold sores are extremely contagious until they have completely healed and the affected skin has returned to normal. But even then there is still the possibility of spreading the virus for some time even after the skin has healed. If for any reason you don't see complete healing within 2 weeks, or it gets worse, talk to your doctor about the best way of treating a cold sore.

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Genital Herpes

                

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Genital herpes is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD). A sexually transmitted disease is a disease that you get by having sex with someone who already has the disease. Genital herpes is usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (known as HSV-2). The disease is usually transmitted by sexual intercourse, with the virus passing from the infected partner via the skin, vagina, penis, or anus. Once you are infected, the virus stays in your body for life. You can give herpes to another person if you have sex when your herpes virus is active. HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body forever, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people.

Herpes is spread through direct contact. So, a genital herpes infection will stay in the area it originated unless transferred elsewhere via direct contact or skin-to-skin transference. Herpes won't just show up on its own somewhere else on the body. Because herpes is spread through direct contact, it is important to avoid contact with infected areas. If a herpes infection is not localized, further complications may occur. Herpes is equally common in males and females.

HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.

Most of the people who are infected with HSV-2 have no symptoms of disease or they do not recognize their symptoms. Only about one third of people who first become infected with HSV-2 have symptoms. These symptoms often include fever, headache, genital pain, genital discharge, and blisters. Even if you have no symptoms, genital herpes can be diagnosed by testing your blood for an antibody to HSV-2. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years.

Once the virus infects you, it moves from the skin or membranes around the genitals to the central nervous system, where it remains for life. The virus can "wake up" or reactivate to cause a recurrence of the disease. When reactivation occurs, the virus travels down the nerves to the skin. It may cause blisters, genital itching, tenderness, burning, tingling, or redness, but it usually just makes copies of itself with no symptoms.

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Can Genital Herpes Be Avoided?

                

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Many kinds of diseases, especially sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like genital herpes, can be avoided if a person is conscientious enough in practicing health habits. For genital herpes, the adage ?an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure? is appropriate. In fact, there is no vaccine against genital herpes.

Abstinence is definitely the most effective way of avoiding genital herpes and any other STDs. Having no sexual contact with anyone assures you that you will never be exposed to genital herpes.

However, abstinence can never be the choice of many people. And so, the next best thing is fidelity. It means that you must maintain a strictly monogamous relationship with a partner who has no genital herpes. This must be a two-way street. That is, you don?t have multiple sex partners, and your partner doesn?t maintain other sex partners. Having several sexual adventures may turn out to be nightmares in the end.

Unfortunately, finding one true love could be a trial and error process for some people. And so, to avoid genital herpes, the third best thing is being responsible. That is, you must practice safe sex.

Before starting a sexual relationship with a new partner, talk about STDs. It is probably not the most scintillating and romantic topic you could think of, but it is a vital one. Find out if your potential sex partner may have been exposed to the HSV virus. Having blisters and sores in the genital area and in the lips and mouth are hazardous signs. But you must also remember the fact that a person infected with HSV or any STD may never show any symptom. Thus, find out about your potential partner?s lifestyle, health history and sex history. If you are the 100th partner, think twice before consulting to a more intimate relationship. Prowess acquired due to experience may not always be a good thing.

Safe sex also means the use of condoms. Condoms, even if used properly, do not entirely prevent the transmission of genital herpes. But they do reduce the risk of acquiring STDs. Sometimes, the sores of genital herpes spread to the anus, the buttocks, and the thighs. These areas could not be covered by condoms. If your sex partner has genital herpes and the sores are limited to a small area, then either male or female condoms can be used. But let us reiterate that condoms do not offer 100% protection.

If pregnant, do everything in your power to avoid HSV infection, so that you do not endanger the health and life of your newborn.

If you are already infected with genital herpes, then have mercy and give others the chance to avoid your disease: avoid any sexual contact.

Chris Locker is writing articles about herpes for the genital herpes site and hemorrhoids articles for the hemorrhoids treatment site.