Facts About Herpes – What Do You Need To Know?

There are two different types of genital herpes – HSV 1 and 2. The most important thing to know about herpes is that it can be transmitted easily and you will continue to have the disease even if you are experiencing no visible signs.

The facts of genital herpes:

•    Genital herpes is a sexual transmitted virus.
•    It is common in both men and women in the United States.
•    Most people with genital herpes don’t know it.
•    There are often no symptoms.
•    If you have symptoms, the most common ones are painful blisters and sores.
•    You can pass genital herpes or contract genital herpes without knowing it.
•    There is no cure of genital herpes.
•    Genital herpes does not cause serious health problems.

There are not always visible symptoms of herpes. If you do have symptoms, it will consist of painful blisters or sores around the genitals or anus. These sores will heal in approximately two to four weeks. It is possible when the sores are present that you will feel like you have the flu. These sores can break our several times a year.

You can get or give genital herpes in various ways:

•    Having sex with someone who has it (this means having anal, oral, or vaginal sex).
•    If your genitals touch the infected skin or secretions (including saliva) of someone who has it.

You can get genital herpes from someone who is not showing symptoms at the moment.

The facts of oral herpes (herpes simplex or cold sores):

•    About 50 to 80 percent of American adults have oral herpes, which is commonly called cold sores or fever blisters.

•    Young children can contract herpes from an adult or family member kissing them.

•    Herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. This occurs when a contagious area comes into contact with a tiny break in the skin or mucous membrane tissue, primarily the mouth and genitals.

•    If a person with oral herpes (sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters) performs oral sex, it is possible for the partner to get genital herpes.

Treatment: There is currently no treatment to cure herpes, however, there are medications to treat it and control outbreaks.

Three antiviral medications (in pill form) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of herpes: Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex. All of these medications, which are taken orally, work by attacking the herpes virus and disrupting its ability to multiply.

The use of medication to treat genital herpes is not required. Additionally, over the counter ointments are not recommended for genital herpes as they may interfere with the healing process.

These basic facts are important to understand the virus, the symptoms and treatment.

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Facts About Herpes – What Do You Need To Know?

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