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Herpes: Infections
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Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases, herpes cannot be cured because medication that will attack the virus while it lies dormant in the nerve cells will ... damage the nerve cells. However, there is treatment available for acute outbreaks that involves the use of anti-viral drugs such as Acyclovir, Valaclovir or Famcyclovir. Acyclovir has been found to reduce the reproduction of the virus in initial outbreaks, thus possibly lessening the number of subsequent outbreaks. To be effective, therapy must be started immediately after the first sores appear. Every sexual partner of the infected person needs to be examined, and if necessary, treated. Famcyclovir has similar effects and may work to prevent a herpes infection from establishing itself if taken soon enough in the course of the illness.
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Herpes is a very common viral infection and one of the most common [S]exually transmitted diseases. If you have ever had a cold sore then you already have herpes and you will probably have it for the rest of your life because there is no known cure at the present time.
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A significant number of medical institutions place the incidence of oral herpes (HSV-1), commonly called cold sores, between 50 and 80 percent among the American population in the fifth decade of life. The overall HSV-1 seroprevalence is dropping a few points per decade in the US, as in all industrialized countries. African-Americans and immigrants from undeveloped countries typically have HSV-1 rates in adolescence that are two or three times higher than that of whites. As a result of lower HSV-1 seroprevalence, more Americans are entering marriage/sexual activity/child bearing years seronegative for HSV-1. The absence of antibodies to HSV-1 from a prior oral HSV-1 infection leaves them susceptible to primary HSV-1 genital infections. This brings with it a risk of vertical transmission to the neonate if the mother contracts in the third trimester, due to lack of time for full seroconversion before childbirth.
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The primary episode of either genital or oral herpes often causes painful blisters and flulike symptoms [Table 1]. Symptoms of an initial herpes outbreak generally occur within two weeks after infection, and are usually more severe than subsequent recurrences. One or two crops of blisters may develop, sometimes accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, and in the case of oral herpes, sores within the throat or mouth. A first outbreak of genital herpes may ... involve symptoms of meningitis (headache, fever, and light avoidance) lasting for up to one week.
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A genital herpes infection can be spread from a mother to her baby during vaginal delivery. In a newborn, herpes can cause organ failure, brain infection, and death. A pregnant woman with genital herpes will likely have a cervical culture done every week for the last 4 to 6 weeks of the pregnancy before delivery. If active herpes is present near the time of delivery, a cesarean delivery (C-section) may be done to prevent infecting the baby.
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Even though women may have more severe disease, they may have symptoms that are not attributed to herpes. A woman who has herpes lesions inside the vagina or on the cervix may have pelvic pain and discharge that may be misdiagnosed as a yeast infection, cervicitis (an inflammation of the cervix), or pelvic inflammatory disease. Herpes lesions that involve the urethra may be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection or bladder dysfunction. With recurrent infections, women may experience only irritation in the genital area without a rash. It is important that women with vaginal discharge or recurrent vaginal symptoms be tested for herpes.
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