If you have blisters in your genital region, your physician can order a test to determine if you have genital herpes. Your physician may take a sample of cells from the fluid inside the blister or order a blood test. Not necessarily. Although lesions can be caused by something other than herpes, false negative herpes tests can occur if the samples are not taken appropriately, if there is a long transport time between the clinic and the laboratory, or if cultures were taken late in the course of the lesions.
Lesions that occur early in the course of a herpes outbreak are much more likely to have positive cultures than cultures taken after the lesions crust over. Your physician can prescribe different medications to help reduce your symptoms and speed up the healing of an outbreak. These medicines work best when you start them soon after an outbreak occurs. Let your physician know if you are worried about your genital herpes. He or she can recommend a support group to help you cope with the virus.
This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant. If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex. Suppressive therapy can address frequent outbreaks. You can take suppressive therapy for long periods of time, or gradually taper off.
The medications used to treat herpes have extremely low side effects. There are no major complications associated with these medications. Resistance to drugs that treat genital herpes — even after 20 years of use — is very rare. Herpes medications may not work as well in patients who are very immunosuppressed and have been treated with these drugs for a long time.
In some cases, patients may need more drugs to suppress their viral outbreaks than others. It is important to avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. A first episode during pregnancy can create a greater risk of transmission to a newborn. Fortunately, it is rare for women with genital herpes to infect their babies.
If you know that you have genital herpes before becoming pregnant, your physician will monitor your condition throughout your pregnancy. If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, a C-section may be recommended. Depending on individual diagnosis, though, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorses suppressive therapy to reduce the frequency of C-section.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus VZV , which causes chickenpox earlier in life. The natural history of varicella zoster infection is similar to genital herpes infection in that VZV also becomes latent in the sensory nerve roots.
Later in life the virus may exit, causing shingles. Recurrences in shingles cause blister lesions in a single area of skin called a dermatome. Shingles is not a sexually transmitted infection and is independent from genital herpes.
Herpes and HIV are caused by different viruses. But patients infected with these viruses are more likely to transmit either disease to their sexual partners. Patients with herpes are more vulnerable to HIV infection. People newly diagnosed with herpes should be tested for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections. Patients who are infected with both herpes and HIV also may have a higher concentration of HIV viruses in their body because of the interaction between the herpes virus and the HIV virus.
What You Need to Know Herpes simplex virus HSV , also known as genital herpes, is most likely to be spread when an infected person is having an outbreak, but it can also be transmitted without any symptoms being present. Genital Herpes Overview In the United States, about 1 in every 6 people ages 14 to 49 have genital herpes. What are the different types of herpes? What causes genital herpes? The health care provider may prescribe antiviral medicine to help speed up the healing process.
It also shortens the time when the virus can spread from the herpes sores. Pain may be treated with medicine such as Tylenol acetaminophen or Motrin ibuprofen or by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area. If sores are in the mouth, avoid foods high in acid, like citrus fruits and juices.
The infected area should be kept clean and dry. Wash hands often and avoid touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus. It is important to stay healthy by getting enough rest, having proper nutrition and exercise and managing stress well.
When to Call the Doctor Even though HSV sores can hurt and be unsightly, most cases of herpes do not cause serious illness. Contact the health provider if: Sores are present and you think it might be a first herpes infection. The diagnosis is usually made by examining the sores. If the sores have not healed, sometimes a laboratory test is done.
Sores do not heal by themselves or show signs of infection such as pus, spreading redness or fever. Sores are near the eyes. You have another health condition with a weakened immune system. Other Important Points During a flare-up: Avoid touching the sores or the skin around that area. Other parts of the body can become infected. Wash your hands with soap and water right away. Protect infants from being kissed by anyone with a cold sore. Babies can get very sick from HSV. Do not kiss anyone when mouth sores are present.
Herpes is a virus that can cause sores on the skin. There are 2 types of the virus. Depending on how you come in contact with the virus, either type can cause outbreaks near the mouth or on the sex organs. Herpes reproduces only when it is inside the body.
It does so by tricking a healthy cell into producing copies of the herpes virus. Each copy can infect nearby cells. The immune system forces the virus to retreat.
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