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Herpes: Bodies
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Herpes zoster, or shingles, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an episode of chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in the body. Herpes zoster occurs as a result of the virus re-emerging after many years.
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Herpes is caused by a virus that may have been dormant in your body for many years. Believe it or not, if you have had chickenpox when you were a child then you probably already hve the dormant form of the virus.
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Blood Tests (serologic tests) detect herpes by looking for antibodies in the blood or serum. Blood tests can be performed even when no symptoms are present. If antibodies are found in the blood, herpes simplex is latent in the body. Blood tests do not require swabbing a lesion, so they can be done long after symptoms have faded.
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Because herpes is highly contagious, the virus may be transmitted even when those infected do not show physical signs or symptoms. The virus can be shed from the body through the skin around the genital area or saliva, even when there are no apparent symptoms. While a condom cannot offer complete protection against transmission, it should certainly be used as a precautionary measure.
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The standard, effective and specific treatment for genital herpes is antiviral therapy, which is usually in tablet form. Antiviral drugs stop HSV from replicating in the body. The treatment only works while you are taking the drug, and cannot prevent future outbreaks once you stop taking it.
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Caution: Usually, it takes two weeks to three months after exposure to herpes for antibodies to appear in the blood. Some blood tests detect antibodies sooner than others. However, once antibodies are found they remain in the body for life.
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