Treatment for Herpes

The sexually transmitted disease herpes can affect both sexes. The following treatments will have to be taken according to the recommendations by your doctor. The amount and medication type may vary per individual.

Treatments and Medications

Medications that may be prescribed include acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir (Famvir). There is no cure for this disease. But these oral antiviral prescription medications will heal sores more quickly following an outbreak.

These drugs can also reduce the duration and severity of the indicators. These medications can also decrease outbreak occurrences. It has been shown that these drugs lower the chance of infecting another person with the disease.

Episodic and Suppressive Therapy

Episodic therapy means taking medicine when the symptoms manifest. Suppressive therapy means taking medicine everyday, whether symptoms appear or not. This can help in lowering outbreak recurrences.

More people are using suppressive therapy as it has proven to be effective. However, your doctor will determine which therapy is most suitable for your case.

Symptoms and Signs

In several cases there are no visible symptoms of the disease. If symptoms manifest, they will include open sores around the anal and genitals; there could also be blisters around the genitals as well.

Without the appropriate treatments for herpes, the itching and pain around the buttocks and genitals will increase. Itching may be felt in the inside of the thighs.

The initial outbreak is usually the most severe. After the bumps appear, these rupture, turn to ulcers and bleed. Scabs will subsequently appear.

In males, the sores appear at the scrotum, anus, in the urethra, penis or the buttocks. Infected women get the sores in the anus, vaginal area, buttocks or anus.

The ulcers will make urinating painful. Pain around the genitals will be felt until the infection has cleared up. When an outbreak occurs, headaches and fever may be felt. Swelling at the lymph nodes at the groin often occurs.

Recurrence Frequency

Some individuals experience outbreaks several times yearly. Others never experience a second outbreak. Triggers for outbreaks include fatigue, stress, surgery, intense sexual activity and illness. There are also cases wherein the infection is active even without lesions.

Causes

The disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It enters the body through skin breaks. It is spread via sexual contact. There are two types: HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 causes blisters to appear at the mouth. This can however, infect the genital area through oral sex.

HSV type 2 (HSV-2) is the type that can lead to genital herpes. This can infect someone whether there is an open sore or not. The virus dies when outside the human body. This means infection from using toilets used by an infected individual is remote. Infection is also unlikely when making contact with objects used by an infected person.

The treatments for herpes are not cures, but proper application can make it more manageable. The important thing is to use the medication as instructed by the health provider.