Herpes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Herpes affects millions worldwide and is surrounded by varied misconceptions, leading to a rise in cases, mismanagement, and complications. Here is this blog; let’s learn about Herpes, symptoms, causes & treatment that can help you manage the condition. So, let’s get started.

What is Herpes?

Herpes, or HSV ( Herpes Simplex Virus), is a viral infection that causes oral or genital herpes. It can cause painful blisters or ulcers and spread by skin-to-skin contact but not by generally touching an object or a surface, such as a towel or a wash basin. Many people live with HSV without ever having an active episode of herpes. Others might experience fluid-filled blisters or sores, which most commonly appear on the genitals, mouth, and lips but can also appear on the hands, fingers, and other body parts. 

Herpes can not be cured, but treatment can help manage symptoms and reduce the possibility of outbreaks recurring and transmission to partners.

Two types of HSV and how they cause:

• Type 1(HSV-1): HSV-1 is mainly spread by oral contact, like kissing, sharing objects such as toothbrushes, eating utensils, or sores on the skin. It affects the mouth and surrounding skin along with the genital region. 
• Type 2(HSV-2): HSV-2 spreads through sexual contact with someone with a genital HSV-2 infection and causes genital herpes. In the case of HSV-2, sores can also develop inside the vagina.

The critical thing to remember is that they both can be spread even if sores are absent. 

World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that in 2016 about 60% of the world's population under age 50 had oral or genital HSV-1. And 13% of people between the age of 1 to 49 were infected by the HSV-2 virus. Another study says that over 90% of adults have HSV-1 antibodies in their bodies by the time they reach 50. 

The symptoms of HSV can be minimized or controlled with the help of medication but cannot be cured. 

Some general symptoms of HSV:

Sometimes HSV does not cause any symptoms, but when they do, their symptoms depend on whether you're experiencing a primary or recurrent infection. 

Primary symptoms of HSV:

Symptoms of the first episode generally appear within a few days to a few weeks after disclosure of the virus.

The primary episode includes flu-like symptoms:

• Unusual tiredness
• Body pain
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat
• Lymphadenitis

Painful blisters appear after tingling, burning, and itching at the site of infection and eventually burst and crust over before they start to heal. These blusters develop during the primary infection and may take up to 6 weeks to heal and can still transmit before they completely heal. These sores can cause pain during urination.

Symptoms of Recurrent HSV:

Some people who live with HSV only have one episode, while others can continue to have occasional seizures every several months or so. Recurrent episodes often become less frequent with time as your body produces antibodies for the virus. They improve rapidly and have less severe symptoms. 

Symptoms you may experience are:

• Itching
• Burning
• Pain
• Tingling

Blisters during a recurrent HSV may heal within several days and become less painful and noticeable. Repeated outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak.

Treatment for HSV:

There is no such cure for HSV, but with the help of medication, symptoms can be relieved.

Generally, blisters improve on their own without any medical treatment. But in case of severe outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe some antiviral medications which help to reduce the complications you experience and ease the severity of your symptoms. These medications can help you lower your chances of transmitting the virus during an episode when you don't have the symptoms.

Treatment is most effective when started within 48 hours of when symptoms begin.

If you have noticed any symptoms on your skin, it's better to take medical help. Only have medicine with a doctor's consultation; it can be dangerous. A medical professional can help you in a better way to control the symptoms.

There are some home remedies also which can help you to reduce the pain.

Home Remedies And Prevention Tips:

• While urinating, squirt water from a bottle to ease the pain.
• Apply aloe vera gel on sores to reduce the burning.
• To avoid irritation, wear loose clothing.
• Hold back from sexual activity, even with protection, until symptoms are gone.
• Always use condoms even if you do not have any symptoms.
• Avoid touching the affected area and avoid letting others touch the affected area ( avoid kissing or oral sex when there is a sore around the mouth)
• Wash your hands thoroughly during an outbreak, especially after touching the affected area.
• Stress, tiredness, illness, skin friction, and sunbathing can trigger a recurrence of symptoms, so avoid doing such things.

These home remedies can help you control the symptoms of infection but only use them after consulting your doctor, as they're not clinically verified. 

Doctors often suggest Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Types 1 & 2 IgG & IgM Antibody Test to check for antibodies against either virus to confirm the diagnosis.