Herpes Testing

                

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There are basically five ways to diagnose herpes in a patient. Herpes testing should not just include detection of the virus but its type and location as well. Knowing the type and location of the virus is important in assessing risks for transmission. Diagnostic measures in herpes testing include clinical examination, viral culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), non-type specific blood tests and type-specific blood tests.

Clinical examination of a patient includes history and physical examination. The doctor may ask about the patient?s sexual partners and practices. A timeline should be constructed as sores usually appear two to three weeks after the infection. Other important questions include presence of pain, itching, tingling, difficulty in urinating, et cetera. Physical examination includes checking for location of sores and swellings of the lymph nodes. Clinical examination is important in assessing the signs and symptoms of herpes but it does not confirm an infection by herpes as the symptoms may be seen in other diseases, the symptoms may present atypically or symptoms may not be present at all.

The second step in herpes testing is viral isolation and culture, which is the most valid test for herpes. The test is effective only when active viral shedding from open sores is present. Viral culture can identify the location of infection and make a distinction between HSV-1 and HSV-2.

PCR distinguishes between HSV-1 and HSV-2 as well. It is more sensitive than viral culture that produces many false negatives. Active viral shedding is also a prerequisite for this procedure.

Non-type specific blood tests in herpes testing include Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). It can identify the presence of herpes infection but cannot differentiate the two types. Other blood tests which may be requested for herpes testing include detection of IgM and IgG antibodies but these are not specific to herpes and these are only reliable after a certain period of time after the infection.

Type-specific blood tests for detection of herpes include Western blot, Immunoblot test or a more specific type of ELISA. These blood tests do not require active viral shedding from open sores.

Herpes provides detailed information on Genital Herpes, Herpes, Herpes And Pregnancy, Herpes Cure and more. Herpes is affiliated with Hepatitis C Treatments.

Just What Is Herpes Simplex?

                

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In the United States, herpes simplex is the most common genital infection. Estimates show that about 1 million people annually will be infected by this virus. Recurrent infections, as a result of the virus, will affect about 45 million people every year. Studies add that the incidence of herpes simplex will be higher in young adults, adolescents, and in those living in lower socioeconomic populations. It is a chronic disease and, in many people, will not have any visible symptoms. Currently, no total cure is available for herpes simplex.

Herpes simplex is the result of either one of two viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). However, most herpes infections are caused by HSV-2. It has been estimated that HSV-2 is responsible for 80% of initial herpes infections, and up to 95% of recurrent infections.

What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes Simplex?

While many people experience no symptoms with herpes simplex, painfully frequent recurrences of herpes symptoms will appear in others. Approximately 3 to 7 days after contacting the infection symptoms of herpes simplex will begin to appear. Red spots, that will be painful, will appear in the genital area. For men, these lesions will generally appear on the head, or the shaft of the penis. For women, these lesions will most commonly occur outside of the vaginal opening, inside the vagina, and on the cervix.

These spots will soon form painful blisters filled with a clear fluid containing particles of the herpes virus. When the blisters break they will shed the virus, causing the appearance of painful ulcers. These ulcers will last up to 6 weeks. Should the ulcers become infected, they could last considerably longer. Touching these blisters, and then touching other areas of the body can spread this infection to these other areas.

Persons with the herpes simplex virus will also experience headache, fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, painful urination, and urinary retention. Men may also experience a urethral discharge, while women may experience a vaginal discharge.

While men are unlikely to experience further serious complications of the herpes simplex, women with herpes simplex may experience complications when pregnant. Although not yet conclusively established, many believe that there may be a direct link between herpes simplex and cervical cancer.

In rare cases, the herpes virus may spread to the brain. This will cause a condition called herpes encephalitis, a life-threatening condition. Although treatment with the drug acyclovir (Zovirax), an antiviral drug, is capable of curing the encephalitis, up to 60% of the survivors will sustain some sort of permanent brain damage.

What Is The Treatment For Herpes Simplex?

While the herpes simplex virus cannot be cured, the symptoms can be alleviated. The drug Acyclovir helps to reduce the severity of the initial episode, and is also administered to treat subsequent episodes. Acyclovir is administered for 7 to 10 days until the lesions fully heal.

How Can Herpes Simplex Be Prevented?

The best way to prevent herpes simplex is to avoid unprotected sex. Herpes simplex may be transmitted through genital-genital contact, but it is important to remember that it may also be transmitted through oral-genital contact. Condoms are usually recommended to prevent transmission of herpes simplex. However, not all of the lesions may be covered by the condom. Any person engaging in sexual activity with a person infected with herpes simplex, must refrain from touching any lesions, especially uncovered lesions. The person infected with herpes simplex must also avoid touching any lesions to eliminate the possibility of spreading the infection to other parts of their bodies.

Because there is no cure, prevention is especially important for herpes simplex. Currently, The National Institute of Health is testing an HSV-2 vaccine. However, its use is limited to women who have no history of HSV-1 exposure. For now, safe sex practices are the best way to prevent the spread of this highly infectious disease.

Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics. To read more on this topic, please visit Don't Let Herpes Ruin Your Life!

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Herpes And The Lysine Lie

                

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The companies selling Lysine supplements have done a great job in getting people to buy a substance that has little value in managing a chronic herpes infection. Lysine has never been shown conclusively in clinical studies to be an effective long term treatment for herpes and in the short term it has never been shown to be more effective than a garlic supplement. Long term use of lysine supplements suppress the arginine levels in your body to a point where it begins to impair your immune system because your immune system does actually need a certain amount of arginine to function properly.

Like all things in your body, balance is the key. Your immune system depends on a good balance between lysine and arginine and the best way to achieve this is to get your lysine through your diet the way your body was designed to instead of through a pill. Eat the foods high in lysine, avoid the foods high in arginine. Simple.

You cannot manage herpes just by popping a pill whether it comes from a drug company or a "natural health" company. This isn't "the valley of the dolls" you actually can get through life without being dependent on pills.

Real management of herpes means strenthening your immune system so that it can keep the virus in check which is what your body is designed to do. You can accomplish this through taking real herbal medicine from an herbalist or by making it yourself.

Real management of herpes also means making the effort to eat an appropriate diet, stress management, and working on your emotional and mental relationship with the disease.

It does take more work to take care of your body naturally than it does to pop a pill. I for one think your body's worth it. I think your life's worth it. Some would disagree, but at least I've made the point.

Christopher Scipio
Homeopath/Herbalist
Holistic Viral Specialist

Christopher Scipio, is one of the most experienced holistic practitioners treating the Herpes virus. A homeopath and herbalist who hails from a long line of Caribbean natural healers, Scipio has during the last 15 years developed a very successful natural protocol in treating the Herpes family of viruses. http://www.herpesnation.com

The Demonization Of Genital Herpes

                

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Those of us who have so-called ?genital herpes? are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand we are ostracized by the minority of the population (about 40%) who don?t currently have herpes simplex in their body, which is bad enough, but more cruelly we are often isolated by our fellow members of the herpes community who have so-called cold sores (heroes simplex 1 of the mouth and face). Frankly the lack of support form the majority of population who has cold sores bothers me far more than the stigma placed on me by unsympathetic members of the uninfected population. After-all they don?t know what it feels like to have herpes so I can cut them some slack. But for those of you who have cold sores and continue pretending that you don?t have herpes and who distance yourselves from those who have their outbreaks genitally rather than facially- shame on you. If it wasn?t for your unwillingness to come to terms with the reality of your herpes infection, the herpes community would be a more united majority of the population far more empowered to boldly go out into the community and reject the unjust and irrational stigma placed on people with herpes.

Sixty percent of the population has herpes. We are living in a herpes nation. There is no reason for us to be a despised minority. If we were more united and more out of the closet we would be in a so much better position to inspire understanding and support from those who do not have herpes. We would be better able to educate young people on herpes prevention and herpes awareness. We would be better able to reach out to the people with herpes who have had their self-esteem devastated.

So-called cold sores are herpes. I have had too many people in my clinic and through the Internet say to me, ?I don?t have herpes, I?ve never had an STD, but I do get these cold sores on my lips?.

Herpes is herpes whether you get your outbreaks above the waist or below the waist. It?s true that people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face often have fewer outbreaks than people with herpes type 2 of the genitals, but it is also true that herpes of the mouth and face is just as contagious if not more so than genital herpes. It is also true that many people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face shed virus without symptoms and are giving many people type 1 herpes on their genitals from oral sex. It is also true that herpes of the mouth and face can spread to parts of the body that genital herpes rarely ever spreads to including the nostrils and into the brain, the hands and fingers, down the esophagus and into the stomach, into the eyes, and elsewhere.

For those who don?t have herpes and give people with herpes a rough time, I really have no words for you. If you believe that having genital herpes is an indication of promiscuity or moral deficiency then you are probably too far-gone for anything I say here to reach you. And for the record I don?t think there?s anything inherently wrong with promiscuity. I got my herpes in the context of a monogamous relationship but I wouldn?t feel bad about myself if I had been infected by herpes through promiscuity. How you got herpes is irrelevant. Herpes is a virus. Viruses have different strategies for gaining access to our bodies. A virus that chooses sex as it?s preferred method of infection is less scary to me than an airborne virus that indiscriminately devastates huge populations in a matter of days.

Jesus said ?let he is who is without sin cast the first stone?. I say let he or she who is without a virus cast the first stone. Between the Chicken-Pox virus (a member of the herpes family), the Epstein-Barr virus (another member of the herpes family), the HPV virus (genital warts and cervical dysplasia) and Herpes Simplex there is virtually no adult reading this article who doesn?t currently have a virus in their body and except for the HPV virus, these viruses are lifelong infections and that?s without even discussing bacteria, fungi, yeast, and protozoa.

Herpes has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and affects akmost every animal with a backbone including cats and elephants and many animals without a backbone. In fact cats and elephants are dying of herpes. I know that cats can be randy but I have never heard of anyone accusing elephants of being promiscuous. If anyone has ever seen an elephant orgy let me know so that I can print a retraction.

When someone has the integrity and courage to tell you that they have herpes they are making themselves vulnerable to you. How you react can often either crush them or help set them free from a prison of shame. I believe that most people are intelligent and compassionate. Please treat people with herpes with the compassion and understanding we deserve. We are the same people we were before we got herpes. We are no less moral, no less attractiv, just as good in bed, just as good of a friend or son or daughter or brother or sister as we were before we got herpes. When someone tells you they have herpes if you treat them unsympathetically it only discourages them for telling others about their herpes in the future, which isn?t a good situation for anyone. When someone tells you they have herpes it?s an opportunity and challenge to you to show that you are not prejudiced and mean-spirited. It is a chance for us all to create more love and understanding.

For those of us who have genital herpes - don?t buy into the lies and myths that make you ashamed and marginalized. You can choose not to let herpes define you and dominate your life. No one can take away your power and dignity except for yourself.

When someone gives you a bad time for having herpes instead of dwelling too long in anger or sadness, just ?forgive them for they know not what they do?. Embrace all the beauty and love around you and if there isn?t enough beauty and love, create it. You are a human being equipped with infinite potential for loving and appreciating the wonders of this world.

Christopher Scipio
Homeopath/Herbalist
Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist


Christopher Scipio is one of the most experienced holistic practitioners treating the Herpes virus. A homeopath and herbalist who hails from a long line of Caribbean natural healers, Scipio has during the last 15 years developed a very successful natural protocol in treating the Herpes family of viruses. http://www.natropractica.com" target="_blank">http://www.natropractica.com