Konuyu Hazırlayan: Hem. Yasemin Yazgünoğlu

DESCRIPTION

Herpes infections are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus, Types I and II.Type I infections typically affect the mouth and nose areas. Outbreaks on the mouth are often referred to as cold sores or fever blisters.Type II infections typically affect the mucus membrane (moist) areas of the male and female genitals.Differentiating the type can cause infections ANYWHERE on the body.

Infection is caused by direct contact of susceptible skin (mucus membrane or broken skin) with the affected skin of an infected person who is shedding the virus. Viral shedding is associated with outbreaks and symptoms as described below, but there are some people who asymptomatic(without symptoms) shedders and may not be aware of their infection.

As with other viruses, the immune system responds to the herpes virus by producing antibodies which suppress the virus and resolve symptoms. Due to the nature of the virus and resolve to the relatively small area of the body involved, this immune reaction is often not complete, and outbreaks may recur.Traumato the infected region or stress, fatigue and sunburn may trigger outbreaks but they can be spontaneous. Most people with recurrent herpes infections usually reach a point where their outbreaks are very rareor cease altogether. Some people never have a recurence.

An active outbreak may cause serious infections in newborns but medical techniques are available to detect herpes risk during delivery. Therfore, it is important for a woman with a history of genital herpes to inform her clinician. Women with ahistory of herpes are also urged to be concientious about getting their annual pap smears.

SYMPTOMS

Typicall, herpes appears as thin-walled blisters at the site where the virus entered the body. On dry skin the lesions may itch, tingle or be intensely painful.The blisters will open into shallow, painful ulcers and primary outbreaks may take two to four weeks to heal. Primary outbreak are typically accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fevers, headaches, body aches, and swollen glands, especially in the groin.

After healing, the virus retreats to nearby nerve tissue.Recurrences tend to have similar lesions to the primary outbreak, usually occur at the same site or very near by, and rarely have flu-like symptoms. Most people infected with herpes note a “prodrome” prior to a recurrence, a sentation of heat, tingling or itching at the site of the pending outbreak. Herpes is considered to be infectiousfrom the onset of the prodrome, during the outbreak and for 10 days after healing.

TREATMENT

At the present time, there is no cure for Herpes. There is an antiviral drug, Acyclovir which has been shown to help shorten the course of primary herpes, and may help ease recurrences for some people. The immune system’s production of antibodies is the body’s way of controlling the virus. Taking care of your health, getting adequate rest, eating well and exercising regularly will help your immune system stay healty and effective. Symptomatic relief, as recommended by a clinician, may be provided by other medications.

PREVENTION

Avoid skin contact (oral or genital) with anyone who has oral or genital sores. Herpes may be transmitted via oral-oral contact, genital-genital contact, or oral-genital contact. If you have a history of herpes, avoid contact during prodromal symptoms, outbreaks, and for 10 days after healing to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection. Maintain good health and try to manage your stress to help keep your immune system healthy.

Due to the risk of asymptomatic shedding (and the difficulty of detecting it), any contact may be risky. Condoms, especially when used with the spermicide "nonoxynol-9", may reduce the risk of transmission. However, condoms will not protect the external vaginal area or the base of the penis from infections that may be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Knowledge of your partner, and frank discussions of sexual risk factors, will help you assess your risk of herpes.