If you’re experiencing blisters or sores around your mouth or genital area, chances are you’re suffering from herpes. It is a viral condition that has no cure. Sometimes, it doesn’t cause any symptoms at all, but you can still transmit the virus to others. However, with treatment, you can manage its symptoms and lower the risk of transmission. Learn everything you need to know about Herpes in the FAQs in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
Common FAQs about Herpes
These FAQs about herpes will help you understand what you need to know about this condition and how to manage it:
- What is herpes, and its types?
Ans. It is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which enters your body through the mouth and genitals. It causes fluid-filled blisters or ulcers. If they break open and form a crust, then it is known as a herpes outbreak. It is highly contagious and can spread from person to person through skin contact. This virus can stay in your body for life, and there is no cure. However, treatments can help to manage the symptoms and lower the chances of spreading it to others.
This virus has 2 types:
- Type 1 (HSV-1): This type of herpes virus spreads through oral contact and causes infections in or around the mouth (oral herpes or cold sores). However, it also causes genital herpes. Most adults can get infected with this virus.
- Type 2 (HSV-2): This type of virus is spread by sexual contact and causes genital herpes. Most people experience no symptoms or mild symptoms. It can cause painful blisters or ulcers that can recur over time. Medications can help to manage its symptoms but can’t cure the infection.
- What symptoms can develop once you are infected with the herpes simplex virus?
Ans. Your symptoms of HSV infection can depend on the specific type of infection:
- Oral herpes: Blisters on your lips or around the mouth are most common. You may experience tingling, itching, or burning up to 48 hours before a blister appears.
- Genital herpes: You may develop blisters on or around your genitals. Other symptoms may appear 48 hours (about 2 days) before blisters show up, including:
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Headache
- Itching or tingling in your genital area.
- Herpes gladiatorum: Blisters can appear anywhere on your skin, but commonly on your hands, face, ears, or chest.
- Herpetic whitlow: It causes blisters, discolored skin, and swelling on your finger or fingernail.
- Herpes keratitis (eye herpes): This causes eye pain or irritation, a feeling like there’s something in your eye, light sensitivity, and blisters over the eyelids or around the eyes.
- HSV encephalitis: It causes headache, fever, focal seizures, and speech or behavior changes.
- Herpes meningitis: It causes headache, fever, and sensitivity to light.
- How long does the herpes incubation period last?
Ans. The incubation period can range from one to 26 days (about 3 and a half weeks), however, it can last from 6 to 8 days. Some people get infected but don’t develop symptoms right away, instead, symptoms may not appear for months or even years until the virus gets triggered again.
- What can trigger your herpes virus?
Ans. Some factors may trigger an oral or genital herpes outbreak, including:
- Fever.
- Stress.
- Weakened immune system (due to medications or an underlying condition).
- Hormonal changes (for example, during the menstrual cycle)
Other triggers specific to oral herpes include:
- Sun exposure
- Upper respiratory infection
- Trauma to the mouth area
Outbreaks can also occur randomly without any known trigger.
- What are the stages of herpes?
Ans. Herpes infection occurs in three stages.
- Primary infection:
This occurs when the HSV enters the body and travels to nearby nerve cells to start replicating. If it enters through the mouth, it infects the trigeminal nerves. If it enters through the genital area, it infects your sacral plexus. If it travels through the nerves to nearby skin or mucosa, then your immune system starts attacking it by sending immune cells, which cause inflammation and the formation of blisters on the skin. You can notice swollen lymph nodes in that area. For some people, this stage of infection doesn’t cause any symptoms, and they are unaware of being infected.
- HSV latency:
Within a few weeks after the immune system clears the primary infection, HSV can stay in the nerve first infected. This stage is called the latency stage, when the virus stays in your nerve cells but is mostly inactive, which means the infected cells are not doing anything at that time. Generally, at this stage, there is no outbreak. Sometimes, infected cells respond to a trigger and cause a stir that the immune system notices. This effect is called HSV reactivation.
- HSV reactivation:
At this stage, infected cells wake up and trigger an immune response, which leads to a few possibilities:
- Containment in nerve tissue: In this possibility, it begins or ends in your nerve cells. Your immune system contains antibodies from a virus that travels to your skin or mucosa. In some cases, when the virus wakes up and causes a quick burst of activity (lasting around 2 to 6 hours) and then ends there. You don’t need to worry about the virus or having symptoms, and you won’t spread the virus to others.
- Asymptomatic viral shedding: Some infected cells may reach the outer layer of your skin, which is not enough to cause viral activity for symptoms, but it may spread through direct contact. This commonly spreads from person to person during the shedding period.
- Symptomatic herpes outbreak: The infected cells replicate enough to infect the skin’s surface to cause symptoms. You may notice blisters on your skin, and what most people call a herpes outbreak. It can easily spread to others through direct contact.
- How is HSV diagnosed?
Ans. To diagnose Herpes Simplex Virus, doctors perform a physical exam to check the signs of infection (like sores) and may take a sample from the sores to send for lab testing. If your provider suspects encephalitis or meningitis, they may recommend a spinal tap. If you don’t have sores, your provider recommends a blood test to check for antibodies against HSV-1 or HSV-2. Antibodies are a sign that you’ve been infected with the virus in the past, which helps the doctor design your treatment plan.
- What treatment options are available to manage the herpes virus?
Ans. To treat the herpes virus, antiviral medications are used as the main treatment. These medications come in different forms such as pills, cream or ointment, injections, or drops. Your doctor will tell you which medication is best for you based on the type of infection you have, the severity of the infection, and how well your immune system is working. Make sure you take medicine as prescribed in its proper dose.
Depending on the severity, treatment for oral and genital herpes falls into two categories:
- Episodic therapy:
It is a short-term treatment to manage a single episode involving taking antiviral medication when you notice signs of an outbreak, like skin tingling or itching. The sooner you take this treatment, the better it works. Doctors use this therapy for primary HSV infections and recurrences.
This makes your symptoms less severe; the pain gets better faster; sores heal faster and reduces the amount of virus that is shed from your skin. However, it won’t affect future outbreaks and their severity. For that, you need chronic suppressive therapy.
- Chronic suppressive therapy:
This antiviral treatment is taken for the long term, especially if you have genital herpes and experience frequent or severe outbreaks, are immunocompromised, or have multiple sexual partners. This is also recommended for people who suffer from chronic therapy and have had severe oral herpes outbreaks or at least six outbreaks per year.
It is usually recommended for people with genital HSV-2 because it often causes more outbreaks than HSV-1. It can lower the number of outbreaks up to 70 to 80%, make symptoms less severe, and lower viral shedding when you don’t have symptoms, which may protect sexual partners.
- Can you prevent HSV?
Ans. Yes, you can prevent HSV, but it is exceedingly difficult to fully prevent it. However, you can follow several ways to lower the risk. It includes:
- Avoid close contact with people who have an HSV outbreak. For example, avoid touching someone who has a cold sore or avoid sexual contact with someone who has genital herpes.
- Asking partners to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including herpes. You can catch HSV from someone who’s asymptomatic. So, knowing your partner’s HSV status, you should take the necessary precautions.
- Using protection (like condoms or dental dams) for all sexual activity will lower the risk of HSV spreading between partners. Protection can’t cover all areas where HSV may be shed, but it’s better to get protection. Additionally, it also protects you from other STIs.
If you have oral herpes or genital herpes, talk with your sexual partners about the risk openly. Both forms of HSV can spread through various forms of sexual activity, so make sure you and your partner are on the same page about precautions and testing.
- When should you see a doctor for the herpes virus?
Ans. You should see a doctor if you have symptoms of an HSV infection or suspect you have been exposed to HSV. Your doctor will recommend that you get a diagnostic test.
- Can herpes symptoms vary between sexes?
Ans. No, herpes symptoms are always the same between the sexes.
Herpes is a viral infection caused by the Herpes simplex virus that leads to blisters or sores to develop around the mouth or genital area, and sometimes anywhere on the skin. Some people don’t develop any symptoms but can still spread this virus to others. It spreads through physical contact with moist skin areas, especially through sexual activity. You can prevent transmitting it by practicing safer sex and proper personal hygiene, like washing hands, using protection during an outbreak. It has no cure, but with treatment, you can manage your condition and prevent it from spreading. Make sure you discuss your condition with your partner to make sure you’re on the same page.
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