Primary Herpes of the mouth part 1

Primary herpes Primary oral herpes infection is also known as herpes gingivostomatitis. All this means is that the herpes virus has caused an infection around the lips, gums and mouth. The initial infection is always the most painful and most individuals never forget it. The infection causes painful sores or blisters around the mouth and gums primarily.

It is believed that most individuals get their initial infection during childhood. Even though many children acquire the virus, only 1/100 develops a full blown infection.

Children are quite prone to herpes simplex infection. The majority of children acquire the virus between the ages of 4-8. Children usually get the virus from adults. Some of the ways the virus is transmitted to children include kissing, hugging, touching or even sharing contaminated utensils.

The infectious period is associated with a low grade fever, tiredness, fatigue and general malaise. Some children may even develop a sore throat and have difficulty swallowing food. The blisters can develop both on the inside and outside of the mouth. These blisters can ulcerate and are quite painful. The gums may become swollen, red, tender and eating food can be difficult. Foul breath and enlarged glands around the neck are common features during a severe episode of the infection. The acute episode lasts bout 5-14 days and most children take a few more days to fully recover. Scarring of the lips is a rare occurrence with uncomplicated herpes sores.

However, even when the blister has disappeared and all the symptoms resolved, the virus unfortunately goes into hiding. The virus has a great tendency to reside in nerve tissues, where it remains silent

Alternative therapy for Herpes Genitalis Part 3

Coping with herpes

Many individuals need help to cope with herpes. The type of therapies available include herpes anonymous, self help groups, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, behavior and psychological therapy. The most important is that the individual understand his disease and its course.

One can learn how to avoid triggering the infection. Antiviral therapy is available to reduce the outbreak frequency, but the medications are expensive. A positive attitude and knowing that the disease is not lethal will help cope with the disorder.

Prognosis

Most individuals recover from the infection in 7-14 days. The few lucky individuals just get one infection for remembrance. The unlucky ones get recurrences at variable rates. As far as a cure is concerned, it is still several years away and it definitely won’t come cheap. The drug industry is not in the business of losing money. If the price of acyclovir is anything to go buy, the vaccine will definitely not be cheap.

There is no doubt that conventional medical therapy has not been very effective in treating herpes simplex. However, it does offer drug therapy (Acyclovir) which is still the most effective compared to whatever else is available. Alternative care may work in some but in most individuals it does not. Herpes unfortunately is forever and so buyer beware of anyone making claims that they can cure it. The best way to cure herpes genitalis is to avoid sex.

Alternative therapy for Herpes Genitalis Part 1

Like most things in medicine, patients rapidly become dis-satisfied with conventional treatment when it come to management of herpes- everyone wants instant relief and Nirvana- and when this fails they seek alternative care.

The alternative health care business is flourishing even without the back up of any scientific data. The reason is patient gullibility because of the false claims made by this industry.

Every type of nutritive and herbal agent has been postulated to help cure herpes. From mega doses of all vitamins, minerals to gouging on the liver, spleen, drinking donkey’s urine (or yours), thymus of cows, chickens and pigs.

Hundreds of herbs are sold as a remedy for herpes-teas, powders, lotions, potions, capsules of every kind are sold- some are recommended to be taken in orally, some to be pasted on the lips and others to placed in the rectum (it sure is a medical miracle if a rectally placed herb can cure an infection in the groin) - yet millions of people buy and use these products.

And the common theme with all these therapies- they do not work.

Signs & Symptoms of Herpes Genitalis

The signs and symptoms of recurrent episodes are generally less severe. Most individuals have a prodrome (an impending sense) when the recurrence will occur. These prodrome symptoms may include the onset of tingling, pain, itching or an unusual feeling around the genitalia area (the unusual feeling is never good).

Diagnosis

In most cases, the diagnosis of herpes genitalis is obvious. To confirm the diagnosis, swabs from the genitalia will be obtained. The virus is generally discovered only during the presence of the blisters. In most cases, the virus is never found. The use of blood to detect antibodies towards the herpes virus is not sensitive and rarely done.

Primary Herpes Genitalis

Primary herpes genitalis

In all cases, the first episode is the most painful and hard to forget. The initial episode is always the longest in duration and is also associated with extra genital symptoms (fever, malaise, general wear down of the body, depression). The initial infection is generally 10-14 days in duration after exposure to the virus.

For most individuals the agony does not simply end there. The other symptoms of fatigue, tiredness and anxiety can take a few more weeks to subside. A few individuals may develop a long lasting syndrome of pain known as post herpetic neuralgia (which is difficult to treat).

However, even when the blister has disappeared and all the symptoms resolved, the virus unfortunately goes into hiding. The virus has a great tendency to reside in nerve tissues, where it remains silent.

Recurrence

After the onset of an infection, the virus has a great affinity for nerves tissue and hides there (becomes latent). For some individuals there may be just one infection from the virus- just for remembrance- for the unlucky ones, the infection may be recurrent. Secondary herpes is due to a local reactivation of the virus. Why some individual get just one infection and why others get recurrence is a medical mystery.

A number of individual keep on getting recurrent herpes sores. As to why some individuals get it and some do not, is a medical mystery. But we do know that some conditions can increase the chance of recurrence. The recurrence may be in the same location around the genitalis or in a different site.

The recurrence rate is variable. There may be one recurrence a month, or several times a month or once a year.