Seek treatment for herpes

Last week, I made reference to a recent press statement by the World Health Organisation, which states that two-thirds of the world’s population under 50 years are afflicted with the highly infectious herpes virus that causes fever blisters and cold sores around the mouth.

The implication of this statement is that more than 3.7 billion people worldwide under the age of 50 suffer from the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1.

As discussed last week, HSV-1 normally causes mouth ulcers and oral herpes infection, but it is becoming an increasing cause of genital infection too.

This means people who are infected by HSV-1 may also have genital herpes.

A particular patient developed a rash with blisters on the skin which later turned to sores after the blisters burst.

He had all the viral tests done with the diagnosis in favour of herpes simplex virus 1. He was managed for herpes and got well.

A month later, the patient had a problem urinating. Sometimes he experiences a burning feeling while urinating. He has done several tests for urinary infections with no significant finding. He was subjected to a prostate test, which also comes out normal.

At the end of the consultation, he discovered that it was the herpes infection that is giving him the signs of difficulty in urinating.

Do you have problem urinating? It could be herpes.

The other causes of difficulty in passing urine like prostate disorders in men, a urinary tract infections are more common and will need to be ruled out, while also considering diagnosis of herpes.

Genital herpes, caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 , is a form of sexually transmitted disease and of serious public health importance.

Risk factors

A person usually gets infected with HSV-2 through sexual contact. Some people are more likely to get HSV-2. These people:

Have had many sex partners.
Had sex for the first time at a young age.
Have (or had) another sexually transmitted infection.
Have a weakened immune system due to a disease or medicine.

How people get genital herpes

Genital herpes can be got after coming into contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Most people get genital herpes from HSV-2, which they get during sex.

If someone has a cold sore and performs oral sex, this can spread HSV-1 to the genitals and cause herpes sores to appear on the genitals.

Mothers can give the herpes virus to their baby during childbirth. If the baby is born during the mother’s first episode of genital herpes, the baby may face serious problems.

Treatment

When a person becomes infected with a herpes virus, the virus never leaves the body. After the first outbreak, the virus moves from the skin cells to nerve cells.

At this stage, the virus is said to be dormant or asleep. But it can become active again.

Most people are treated with an antiviral medicine. An antiviral cream or ointment can relieve the burning, itching, or tingling and can shorten an outbreak of herpes.

Antiviral medicine approved for the treatment of both types of herpes simplex is a prescription drug.

Prevention

If there is tingling, burning, itching, or tenderness where one has herpes sore, that part of the body should be kept away from other people and sex should be avoided with uninfected partners.

Pregnant women should tell their doctors if they or their partners have genital herpes.

There is the need to take some medicines during pregnancy to prevent passing the virus to the unborn baby.

In conclusion, genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, the STD, prevention strategy also applies:

Abstain from sex.
Be faithful to your partner.
Use condoms always.

PUNCH.