Question:
I need information on one of the following STD's:?
Mr Kabob
2006-05-26 16:45:46 UTC
10 points for someone to give me info on:
genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis, gonohrea, chamidia
(one, not all)

I would do the research myself, but I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY DISTURBING IMAGES!!!!

so don't give me a link with penises with bumps on it! NO THANKS!

10 points to the first person to delivery non-disturbing information on any of the std's listed above!

thank you!
Ten answers:
mrsdebra1966
2006-05-26 16:48:02 UTC
OK, I'll be your eyes & find the info for you. Nothing bothers me. View each topic on the second link, ok? They are good.
?
2016-04-18 20:52:09 UTC
1
?
2016-08-31 21:29:20 UTC
2
Alli
2006-05-27 10:55:41 UTC
Alright I'm NOT going to copy and paste like most people did. And I'm doing two STDs only because I unfortunately have both of them, so I know EXACTLY how they are...not just copying and pasting from a website. I promise no links to a website with disturbing images! :)



Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses in the genital or anal area. In women the warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening (cervix) to the womb (uterus), or around the anus. While genital warts are approximately as prevalent in men, the symptoms of the disease may be less obvious. When present, they usually are seen on the tip of the penis. They also may be found on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus. Rarely, genital warts also can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.



Genital warts are caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus). There are over 100 different kinds of HPV, only a few cause genital warts. There are a few ways to get rid of them. You can have them lasered off, frozen off, or use topical medication (creams). As for home remedies, nothing really works. The more you wait, the more they spread and can become VERY painful (I had to call off work, they were so painful).



Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The first-time (primary) outbreak of HSV often starts with painful itchy blisters on the penis or on the vulva (the area surrounding the opening of the vagina). The blisters rupture and turn into oozing shallow sores that take up to 3 weeks to heal. A primary outbreak may also include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches; painful urination; and abnormal discharge.



Genital herpes can be treated with a few different medications: Acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). These medications can be taken daily to help prevent future breakouts, or they can be taken when you are having an outbreak of "feel" an outbreak coming on. Some people can go years without having a reoccurring outbreak.



I hope this helped!
20mommy05
2006-05-26 16:49:22 UTC
I am going to go with genital warts because it is caused by the most common STD the Human Papilloma Virus. This can also cause cervical cancer. I will send you a good link in just a moment.



This is very good for you to read as a woman so you can protect yourself from it. Guys don't always show symptoms of HPV and there is really no way to test them for it. It is very easily spread and the warts are the least of your worries.



(I didn't see any pictures)



http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdhpv.htm
Mache
2006-05-26 17:19:09 UTC
Genital warts; known as HPV..human papilloma virus. Usually doesn't affect the male. Can cause cervical cancer in females. Only way you will know you have HPV is if you get a regular pap smear.
Elmo
2006-05-26 16:50:53 UTC
There was this one video I watched once called "price tag of sex." It was about a women who is a therepist talking about stds and stuff. Watch that if you want to get an idea.
purple
2006-05-26 20:16:05 UTC
what is gonorrhea ..

a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.how common is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. CDC estimates that more than 700,000 persons in the U.S. get new gonorrheal infections each year. Only about half of these infections are reported to CDC. In 2004, 330,132 cases of gonorrhea were reported to CDC. In the period from 1975 to 1997, the national gonorrhea rate declined, following the implementation of the national gonorrhea control program in the mid-1970s. After a small increase in 1998, the gonorrhea rate has decreased slightly since 1999. In 2004, the rate of reported gonorrheal infections was 113.5 per 100,000 persons.

how do you get gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during delivery.



People who have had gonorrhea and received treatment may get infected again if they have sexual contact with a person infected with gonorrhea.

who is at risk?

Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans.



what are the symptoms ?Although many men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all, some men have some signs or symptoms that appear two to five days after infection; symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear. Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.



In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.



Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually causes no symptoms.



what are the complications?Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.



In women, gonorrhea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). About one million women each year in the United States develop PID. Women with PID do not necessarily have symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever. PID can lead to internal abscesses (pus-filled “pockets” that are hard to cure) and long-lasting, chronic pelvic pain. PID can damage the fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.

In men, gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the testicles that can lead to infertility if left untreated.



Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints. This condition can be life threatening. In addition, people with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV-infected people with gonorrhea are more likely to transmit HIV to someone else.



how does it affect a pregnant woman?If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is detected in pregnant women will reduce the risk of these complications. Pregnant women should consult a health care provider for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.how its diaginosed?

Several laboratory tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Gonorrhea that is present in the cervix or urethra can be diagnosed in a laboratory by testing a urine sample. A quick laboratory test for gonorrhea that can be done in some clinics or doctor's offices is a Gram stain. A Gram stain of a sample from a urethra or a cervix allows the doctor to see the gonorrhea bacterium under a microscope. This test works better for men than for women..what is the treatment?

Several antibiotics can successfully cure gonorrhea in adolescents and adults. However, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many areas of the world, including the United States, and successful treatment of gonorrhea is becoming more difficult. Because many people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia, another sexually transmitted disease, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together. Persons with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs.



It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. People who have had gonorrhea and have been treated can get the disease again if they have sexual contact with persons infected with gonorrhea. If a person's symptoms continue even after receiving treatment, he or she should return to a doctor to be reevaluated.

how to prevent it?The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.



Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea.



Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to see a doctor immediately. If a person has been diagnosed and treated for gonorrhea, he or she should notify all recent sex partners so they can see a health care provider and be treated. This will reduce the risk that the sex partners will develop serious complications from gonorrhea and will also reduce the person's risk of becoming re-infected. The person and all of his or her sex partners must avoid sex until they have completed their treatment for gonorrhea.
TB
2006-05-26 16:53:00 UTC
www.std.com
2006-05-26 16:49:09 UTC
The herpes simplex virus (HSV) (also known as Cold Sore, Night Fever, or Fever Blister) is a virus that manifests itself in two common viral infections, each marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes (such as the mouth or lips) or on the genitals. The disease is contagious, particularly during an outbreak, and is incurable with present technology. An infection on the lips is commonly known as a "cold sore" or "fever blister," though this should not be confused with a canker sore, which appears inside the mouth and is not caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Contents

[hide]



* 1 HSV-1 and HSV-2

o 1.1 Later Stage of Orofacial infection (Generally HSV 1)

* 2 HSV disease

o 2.1 Orofacial infection (Generally HSV 1)

o 2.2 Genital infection (Generally HSV 2)

o 2.3 Herpes simplex encephalitis (generally HSV 1)

o 2.4 Neonatal herpes simplex

* 3 Outbreak triggers

* 4 Transmission

* 5 Prevention

* 6 Future vaccines

* 7 Treatments

o 7.1 Medications

+ 7.1.1 Availability of generic drugs

+ 7.1.2 Research drugs

+ 7.1.3 Lysine

+ 7.1.4 Other natural compounds

+ 7.1.5 Unproven

+ 7.1.6 Other

* 8 Latent Infection and Biology

* 9 Long-term effects

* 10 Psychological and social effects

o 10.1 Quality of life issues

o 10.2 Disclosure to new partners

* 11 Myths

* 12 Other herpes viruses

* 13 References

* 14 External links



[edit]



HSV-1 and HSV-2

[edit]



Later Stage of Orofacial infection (Generally HSV 1)

Orofacial infection ICD-10 B00.0-B00.2

ICD-9 054.0, 054.2

Infectious fluid-filled blisters near upper/lower lips (herpes labialis). Late stage of infection, has spread but is recovering.

Enlarge

Infectious fluid-filled blisters near upper/lower lips (herpes labialis). Late stage of infection, has spread but is recovering.



Image from patient.



1. Skin highly irritated

2. Sore or cluster of fluid-filled blisters begin to dry up and form scabs.

3. Lesions in healing process, usually without scarring.





Koutsky LA, Ashley RL, Holmes KK, Stevens CE, Critchlow CW, Kiviat N, Lipinski CM, Wolner-Hanssen P, Corey L. (1990). "The frequency of unrecognized type 2 herpes simplex virus infection among women. Implications for the control of genital herpes". Sex. Transm. Dis. 17 (2): 90-94. PubMed.[1]

[edit]



HSV disease



The ways in which herpes infections manifest themselves vary tremendously among individuals. The following are general descriptions of the courses outbreaks may take in the oral and genital regions.

[edit]



Orofacial infection (Generally HSV 1)

Orofacial infection ICD-10 B00.0-B00.2

ICD-9 054.0, 054.2

Infectious fluid-filled blister on lower lip (herpes labialis).

Enlarge

Infectious fluid-filled blister on lower lip (herpes labialis).



Image from patient.



1. Prodromal symptoms

2. Skin appears irritated

3. Sore or cluster of fluid-filled blisters appear

4. Lesion begins to heal, usually without scarring



[edit]



Genital infection (Generally HSV 2)

Genital herpes ICD-10 A60.0

ICD-9 054.1



1. Prodromal symptoms

2. Sore appears

3. Lesion begins to heal, usually without scarring



In men, the lesions may occur on the shaft of the penis, in the genital region, on the inner thigh, buttocks, or anus. In women, lesions may occur on or near the pubis, labia, clitoris, vulva, buttocks, or anus. This may require a very careful examination e.g. during delivery, examination by use of a flashlight may be necessary.



The appearance of herpes lesions and the experience of outbreaks in these areas varies tremendously among individuals. Herpes lesions on/near the genitals may look like cold sores. An outbreak may look like a paper cut, or chafing, or appear to be a yeast infection. Symptoms of a genital outbreak may include aches and pains in the area, discharge from the penis or vagina, and discomfort when urinating.



Initial outbreaks are usually more severe than subsequent ones, and generally also involve flu-like symptoms and swollen glands for a week or so. Subsequent outbreaks tend to be periodic or episodic, typically occur four to five times a year, and can be triggered by stress, illness, fatigue, menstruation, and other changes. The virus sequesters in the nerve ganglia that serve the infected dermatome during non-eruptive periods, where it cannot be conventionally eliminated by the body's immune system.

[edit]



Herpes simplex encephalitis (generally HSV 1)

Herpesviral encephalitis ICD-10 B00.4, G05.1

ICD-9 054.3



Herpes simplex encephalitis is a very serious disorder, thought to be caused by the retrograde transmission of the virus from a peripheral site to the central nervous system along a nerve axon. It is known that the virus lies dormant in the ganglion of the trigeminal or fifth cranial nerve. The reason for reactivation remains unclear. It has also been proposed that the olfactory nerve may be involved[2]. Without treatment, it results in rapid death in around 70% of cases. Even with the best modern treatment, it is fatal in around 20% of cases, and causes serious long-term neurological damage in over half the survivors. Again, for unknown reasons the virus seems to target the temporal lobes of the brain. A small population of survivors, perhaps 20%, show little long-term damage. It is most common in children and middle-aged adults. Although herpes simplex is by no means the most common cause of viral encephalitis (accounting for about 10% of cases in the US), because of the high risk associated with it if it is not treated, patients presenting with encephalitis symptoms are likely to be treated against this disorder without waiting for a positive diagnosis.



The virus usually infects through the mouth and enters the nucleus during the first 7 days, and will remain latent for 10 days to 100 years, and will then reactivate from common stress, fever, or a sunburn. The virus will soon be contagious through more cold sores, and the disease will start to attack the brain.

[edit]



Neonatal herpes simplex

Congenital herpesviral (herpes simplex) infection ICD-10 P35.2

ICD-9 771.2

HSV at newborn child.

Enlarge

HSV at newborn child.



Neonatal HSV disease is a rare, but serious, consequence of vertical HSV transmission from mother to newborn child. Prospective active surveillance data indicates an incidence rate of 3.61 per 100,000 live births in Australia, with similar rates in the UK; but much lower than the USA. [3][4] Preliminary studies indicate the epidemiology in Canada is closer to Europe than to America. The mortality rate from neonatal HSV disease is high (up to 25%) despite current interventions with antiviral therapies. Death results from disseminated HSV disease and/or HSV encephalitis in the newborn children.

[edit]



Outbreak triggers



Many people with herpes have reported that stress, increased exposure to the sun, viral infections, facial injuries and eating foods high in arginine, such as chocolate, peanuts and walnuts, may increase the chance and severity of outbreaks. In addition, some have found that excessive usage of antibiotics can limit the immune system's ability to keep the disease within the nerve ganglia. Allergic reactions can also trigger an outbreak, chronic herpes genitalis may be caused by a chronic undiagnosed low-level food allergy for example.

[edit]



Transmission



Herpes is contracted through direct skin contact (not necessarily in the genital area) with an infected person, and less frequently by indirect contact, in particular by sharing lip balm. The virus travels through tiny breaks in the skin or through moist areas, but symptoms may not appear for up to a month or more after infection. Transmission was thought to be most common during an active outbreak - however, in the early 1980s, it was found that the virus can be shed from the skin in the absence of symptoms. It is estimated that between 50% and 80% of new HSV-2 cases are from asymptomatic viral shedding.



HSV asymptomatic shedding is believed to occur on 2.9% of days while on antiviral therapy, versus 10.8% of days without. Shedding is known to be more frequent within the first 12 months of acquiring HSV-2. There are some indications that some individuals may have much lower patterns of shedding, but evidence supporting this is not fully verified. Sex should always be avoided in the presence of symptomic lesions. Oral sex performed by someone with oral lesions, or other symptoms, should be avoided, to avoid transmission of HSV1 to the partner's genitals.



Women are more susceptible to acquiring genital HSV-2 than men. On an annual basis, without the use of antivirals or condoms, the transmission risk from infected male to female is approximately 8-10%. This is believed to be due to the increased exposure of mucosal tissue to potential infection sites. Transmission risk from infected female to male is approximately 4-5% annually. Supressive antiviral therapy reduces these risks by 50%. Antivirals also help prevent the development of symptomatic HSV in infection scenarios by about 50%, meaning the infected partner will be seropositive but symptom free. Condom use also reduces the transmission risk by 50%. Condom use is much more effective at preventing male to female transmission than vice-versa. [1] The effects of combining antiviral and condom use is roughly additive, thus resulting in approximately a 75% combined reduction in annual transmission risk. It is important to note that these figures reflect experiences with subjects having frequently recurring genital herpes (>6 recurrences per year), subjects with low recurrence rates and those with no clinical manifestations were excluded from these studies.

[edit]



Prevention



Condoms are the recommended way to prevent transmission of herpes simplex infection, as demonstrated in research. [1][5] However, this is by no means completely effective. The effectiveness of this method is somewhat limited on a public health scale by the limited use of condoms in the community [6]; and on an individual scale because some blisters may not be covered by the condom.



When one partner has herpes simplex infection and the other doesn't, the use of valaciclovir, in conjunction with a condom, has been demonstrated to further decrease the chances of transmission to the uninfected partner, and the FDA approved this as a new indication for the drug in August 2003.



Other measures that have been suggested include:



* Use of a lip protectant or lip gloss

* Management of stress

* Adequate sleep and nutrition

* Avoidance of cross-infecting different sites on the body if HSV blisters are present



[edit]



Future vaccines



The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States is currently in the midst of phase III trials of a vaccine against HSV-2. The vaccine has only been shown to be effective for women who have never been exposed to HSV-1. Overall, the vaccine is approximately 48% effective in preventing HSV-2 seropositivity and about 78% effective in preventing symptomatic HSV-2. Assuming FDA approval, a commercial version of the vaccine is estimated to become available around 2008.

[edit]



Treatments

[edit]



Medications



There are several prescription antiviral medications for controlling herpes outbreaks, including acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), famcyclovir (Famvir), and pencyclovir. Acyclovir was the original and prototypical member of this class and generic brands are now available at a greatly reduced cost. Valacyclovir and famcyclovir are prodrugs of acyclovir and pencyclovir respectively, with improved oral bioavailability. Valacyclovir has approximately 55% oral bioavailability, versus 20% for generic acyclovir. Famvir has approximately 75% oral bioavailability, versus 5% for generic pencyclovir. Both acyclovir and pencyclovir work by interfering with viral replication, effectively slowing the replication rate of the virus, and providing a greater opportunity for the immune response to intervene. All drugs in this class depend on the activity of the viral thymidine kinase to convert the drug to a monophosphate form and subsequently interfere with viral DNA replication. Pencyclovir's primary advantage over acyclovir is that it has a far longer cellular half-life, 10 hours (HSV-1) / 20 hours (HSV-2) versus 3 hours (HSV-1/2) for acyclovir. Famvir is currently about 33% more costly than Valtrex.



Docosanol (Abreva) is another treatment that may be effective. Docosanol works by preventing the virus from fusing to cell membranes, thus barring entry into the cell for the virus. This may keep an outbreak contained to a smaller area than would otherwise be observed.



Tromantadine is another antiviral drug effective against herpes.



Non-prescription analgesics can reduce pain and fever during initial outbreaks.



Acyclovir is the recommended antiviral for suppressive therapy to prevent transmission of herpes simplex to the neonate. The use of valacyclovir and famcyclovir, while potentially improving treatment compliance and efficacy, are still undergoing safety evaluation in this context. [7] There is evidence in mice that treatment with famcyclovir, rather than acyclovir, during an initial outbreak can help lower the incidence of future outbreaks by reducing the amount of latent virus in the neural ganglia. This potential effect on latency over acyclovir drops to zero a few months post-infection. [8]

[edit]



Availability of generic drugs



* Acyclovir is no longer under US patent protection, available in generic form

* Valacyclovir (GlaxoSmithKline) protected under U.S. Patent 4957924 protection expiring June 2009

* Famcyclovir (Novartis) protected under U.S. Patent 5246937 protection expiring Sept 2010

* Pencyclovir (GlaxoSmithKline) protected under U.S. Patent 5075445 protection expiring Sept 2010

* Docosanol (Avanir) protected under U.S. Patent 4874794 protection expiring April 2014



[edit]



Research drugs



* BAY 57-1293, a helicase-primase inhibitor researched by Bayer AG scientist Gerald Kleymann's team in Wuppertal, Germany. [9][10]



* BILS 179 BS, BILS 45 BS, BILS 22 BS, also inhibitors of helicase-primase enzyme, researched in Ridgefield, Connecticut, by James Crute's team at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. [11][12]



* Roscovitine is an inhibitor of cellular cyclin-dependent kinase and seems to prevent transcription of viral genomes. Roscovitine has entered clinical trials for HIV infection. [13][14][15]



[edit]



Lysine



Lysine supplementation has been proposed as a complementary therapy for the prophylaxis and treatment of herpes simplex. Lysine supplementation is highly dose-dependent, with beneficial effects apparent only at doses exceeding 1000 mg per day. A small randomised controlled trial indicated a decrease in recurrence rates in nonimmunocompromised patients at a dose of 1248 mg of lysine monohydrochloride, but no effect at 624 mg daily. This study did not show any evidence of shortening the healing time compared to placebo. [16] Another small randomised controlled trial indicated the benefit of 3000 mg lysine daily for the reduction of occurrence, severity and healing time for recurrent HSV infection. [17]



Tissue culture studies have shown the suppression of viral replication when the lysine to arginine ratio in vitro favours lysine. The therapeutic consequence of this finding is unclear, but dietary arginine may affect the effectiveness of lysine supplementation. [18]



High doses of lysine (greater than 10 grams daily) are known to cause gastrointestinal adverse effects. Dyspepsia was reported in 3 of 114 subjects treated with L-lysine in one study. [17] Prolonged and/or very high lysine doses may also have adverse effects on renal function, indeed lysine is contraindicated in lysine hypersensitivity and kidney or liver disease. (Anon., 2005) One patient, with a history of risk factors for renal impairment, developed tubulointerstitial nephritis (Fanconi's Syndrome) after taking lysine 3000 mg daily for approximately 5 years. [19]

[edit]



Other natural compounds



Carrageenans, linear sulphated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds, have been shown to have antiviral effects in HSV-infected cells.



* There are indications that a carrageenan based gel may offer some protection against HSV-2 transmission by binding to the receptors on the herpes virus thus preventing the virus from binding to cells. Researchers have shown that a carrageenan-based gel effectively prevented HSV-2 infection at a rate of 85% in a mouse model. [20] There is an ongoing large-scale trial of the efficacy of a similar formulation on humans results are expected to be published in 2007.

* The natural carrageenans 1T1, 1C1, 1C3 isolated from Gigartina skottsbergii seaweed inhibited the replication avtivity of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in infected mouse astrocyte nerve cells and vero cells. [21]



Lactoferrin, a component of whey protein, has been shown to have a synergistic effect with aciclovir against HSV in vitro. [22] The concentration of lactoferrin which achieved 50% of maximum effectiveness observed (i.e., the EC50) also acted in synergy with aciclovir; the concentration required to achieve EC50 for each substance was reduced "two- to seven-fold."



Resveratrol, a compound in red wine, has been shown by researchers to prevent HSV replication in vitro by inhibiting a protein needed by the virus to replicate. Resveratrol alone was not considered potent enough by the researchers to be an effective treatment. [23] A more recent in vivo study in mice showed the efficacy of topical resveratrol cream in preventing cutaneous HSV lesion formation. [24] Research on a much more potent derivative of resveratol, named stil-5, is ongoing. There is no evidence that red wine consumption provides any similar benefits.

[edit]



Unproven



Limited evidence suggests that low dose aspirin (125 mg daily) might be beneficial in patients with recurrent HSV infections. A small study of 21 volunteers with recurrent HSV indicated a significant reduction in duration of active HSV infections, milder symptoms, and longer symptom-free periods as compared to a control group. [25] A recent animal study found that aspirin inhibited thermal stress-induced ocular viral shedding of HSV-1, and a possible benefit in reducing recurrences. [26] Aspirin is not recommended in persons under 18 years of age with herpes simplex due to the increased risk of Reye's syndrome. Long term daily doses of aspirin have a side effect of reduced blood coagulation, facilitating bruising. A single 81 mg "daily dose" aspirin is a safer regimen given that there are no studies of the correlation between dosage and anti-viral effects of aspirin.



Cimetidine, a common component of heartburn medication, and probenecid have been shown to reduce the renal clearance of aciclovir. [27] The study showed these compounds reduce the rate, but not the extent, at which valaciclovir is converted into aciclovir. Renal clearence of aciclovir was reduced by approximately 24% and 33% respectively. In addition, respective increases in the peak plasma concentration of acyclovir of 8% and 22% were observed. Due to the tendency of aciclovir to precipitate in renal tubules, combining these drugs should only occur under the supervision of a physician.

[edit]



Other



The evidence for the effectiveness of zinc and Vitamin C supplementation is poor. [28] Other supplements with anecdotal evidence of benefits include monolaurin, vitamin A, vitamin B12, garlic, and echinacea. Daily multivitamin intake may be beneficial through maintenance of immune system health. High doses of vitamin A should not be taken in early pregnancy due to linkage with birth defects.





[edit]



Latent Infection and Biology



Herpes Virus is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-type virus. Herpes establishes a latent infection in cells of the nervous system. Double-stranded DNA is incorporated into the cell physiology by infection of the cell nucleus, where a loop of dsDNA is maintained. During inactive, or latent, periods of the infection, a subset of the Herpes genome termed LAT or Latency Associated Transcript is active and may be involved in maintenance of latency.

[edit]



Long-term effects



The long-term effects of herpes are not well known, but the blisters may leave scars, and historically it was thought to contribute to the risk of cervical cancer in women. Subsequently, another virus, human papillomavirus (HPV), has been shown to be the cause of cervical cancer in women. Additionally, people with herpes are at a higher risk of HIV transmission because of open blisters. In newborns, however, herpes can cause serious damage: death, neurological damage, mental retardation, and blindness.



Currently, there is no viable cure for herpes. The immune system is able to destroy active herpes virus particles but the herpes virus has the ability to hide from the immune system in an inactive (or latent) state. Current research suggests that this ability to hide may be achieved via modification to cellular enzyme histone deacetylases (HDACs), namely HDAC1 and HDAC2. [29] Hypothetically, by interfering with the HDAC enzymes' effectiveness, it may be possible to block the virus's ability to hide from the immune system, leading to a complete elimination of the virus by the immune system. Studies on the impact of HDAC inhibitors on viral latency are ongoing in the HIV arena.

[edit]



Psychological and social effects



Discovering that a person has genital herpes can have a dramatic effect on that person's mental well being and sexual behaviour.

[edit]



Quality of life issues



Upon diagnosis of genital herpes, people can experience a number of negative feelings related to the condition. One study [30] surveyed people about their first episode of genital herpes. Findings showed proportions of people who experienced



* depression 82%

* fear of rejection 75%

* feeling of isolation 69%

* fear of being found out 55%

* self-destructive feelings 28%



All of these proportions reduced over time.



The impact of genital herpes included:



* partial or complete cessation of sexual activity

* total or partial loss of interest in sex

* decreased sexual pleasure

* sex life more inhibited and less spontaneous

* anxiety related to sexual desirability

* increased masturbation

* increased depression



In order to improve the well-being of people with herpes, a number of support groups exist, both physically and with a presence on the Internet.

[edit]



Disclosure to new partners



People with genital herpes are often hesitant to divulge that they have the virus to other people, especially new or potential sexual partners. Results from one study show that people are less likely to inform what they consider to be casual partners. [31] In addition, the perception of the likely reaction is taken into account before making a decision about whether to inform a new partner. An event such as a couple moving in together was found to be the point when some people disclosed their status.



The study showed people informed 62% of regular partners and 22% of casual partners, and was unrelated to the gender of the person. Strategies used when telling partners included keeping the issue "low key," choosing a relaxed environment and suggestions of the couple being tested jointly for a range of sexually transmitted infections. The ratio of positive reactions to negative reactions to disclosure was 22:4.



Doctors at some hospitals and health clinics actually advise men not to tell their partners[citation needed] unless the woman is pregnant, reasoning that the psychological effects of herpes far outweigh the physical effects in adults. This advice is still controversial, especially as genital herpes affects women significantly worse than it does men.



Also, since 60-90% of the population is seropositive for HSV-1, people with HSV-1 infections do not have the same ethical and legal (see SMITH v. SPELIGENE) obligations as people with HSV-2 in terms of disclosure to partners.

[edit]



Myths



Some common myths and misconceptions about herpes (usually meaning "genital") are:



* that it is fatal (only true for newborns, where it is rare, or if it infects the brain, which is again uncommon),

* that it only affects the genital areas (it can affect any part of the body),

* that condoms are completely effective in preventing the spread of this disease,

* that it is transmittable only in the presence of symptoms,

* that it can make you sterile,

* that pap smears detect herpes,

* and that only promiscuous people get it (it is so common that anyone is at risk - with the exception of lifelong monogamous couples in the case of genital herpes).





There is a basis in fact that herpes could be transmitted via an inanimate object such as a toilet seat or wet towel but the conditions required for this kind of transmission (high heat, high moisture, and a vulnerable exposure site) make it extremely unlikely. Although there are no confirmed cases of this type of transmission, sharing a towel with somebody with active lesions should be avoided. Likewise, sharing lip or mouth products (toothbrushes, lipstick, lip balm, or similar) with someobody with active lesions should be avoided.

[edit]



Other herpes viruses

Herpes zoster ICD-10 B02

ICD-9 053



There are eight members of the herpes virus family that are known to cause human disease, including not only the Herpes Simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2), but also the varicella-zoster virus (VZV, or HSV-3) which causes both shingles and chickenpox, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, or HSV-4), cytomegalovirus (CMV, or HSV-5), human B cell lymphatic virus (HSV-6), roseola poorly characterised virus (HSV-7), and the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, or HSV-8).

[edit]



References



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2. ^ Dinn JJ (1980). "Transolfactory spread of virus in herpes simplex encephalitis". Brit Med J 281: 1932.

3. ^ Elliott E, Rose D. (2003). "Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Reporting of communicable disease conditions under surveillance by the APSU, 1 January to 30 September 2003". Commun. Dis. Intell. 28 (1): 90-91. PubMed.

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7. ^ Leung DT, Sacks SL. (2003). "Current treatment options to prevent perinatal transmission of herpes simplex virus". Expert Opin. Pharmacother. 4 (10): 1809-1819. PubMed.

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9. ^ Winstead ER.. "Two new anti-herpes drugs tested." Genome News Network. URL accessed on 2006-03-20.

10. ^ Kleymann G, Fischer R, Betz UA, Hendrix M, Bender W, Schneider U, Handke G, Eckenberg P, Hewlett G, Pevzner V, Baumeister J, Weber O, Henninger K, Keldenich J, Jensen A, Kolb J, Bach U, Popp A, Maben J, Frappa I, Haebich D, Lockhoff O, Rubsamen-Waigmann H. (2002). "New helicase-primase inhibitors as drug candidates for the treatment of herpes simplex disease". Nat. Med. 8 (4): 392-398. PubMed.

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16. ^ McCune MA, Perry HO, Muller SA, O'Fallon WM. (2005). "Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride". Cutis. 34 (4): 366-373. PubMed.

17. ^ a b Griffith RS, Walsh DE, Myrmel KH, Thompson RW, Behforooz A. (1987). "Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis". Dermatologica. 175 (4): 183-190. PubMed.

18. ^ Griffith RS, Norins AL, Kagan C. (1978). "A multicentered study of lysine therapy in Herpes simplex infection". Dermatologica. 156 (5): 257-267. PubMed.

19. ^ Lo JC, Chertow GM, Rennke H, Seifter JL. (1996). "Fanconi's syndrome and tubulointerstitial nephritis in association with L-lysine ingestion.". Am. J. Kidney Dis. 28 (4): 614-617. PubMed.

20. ^ Zacharopoulos VR, Phillips DM. (1997). "Vaginal formulations of carrageenan protect mice from herpes simplex virus infection". Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 4 (4): 465-468. PubMed.

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22. ^ Andersen JH, Jenssen H, Gutteberg TJ. (2003). "Lactoferrin and lactoferricin inhibit Herpes simplex 1 and 2 infection and exhibit synergy when combined with acyclovir". Antiviral Res. 58 (3): 209-215. PubMed.

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26. ^ Gebhardt BM, Varnell ED, Kaufman HE. (2004). "Acetylsalicylic acid reduces viral shedding induced by thermal stress". Curr. Eye Res. 29 (2-3): 119-125. PubMed.

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28. ^ Unknown (2005). “Herpes simplex virus oral”, Klasco RK (ed.) AltMedDex System. Greenwood Village, CO: Thomson Micromedex.

29. ^ Poon AP, Liang Y, Roizman B. (2003). "Herpes simplex virus 1 gene expression is accelerated by inhibitors of histone deacetylases in rabbit skin cells infected with a mutant carrying a cDNA copy of the infected-cell protein no. 0". J. Virol. 77 (23): 12671-12678. PubMed.

30. ^ Vezina C, Steben M. (2001). "Genital Herpes: Psychosexual Impacts and Counselling". The Canadian Journal of CME (June): 125-134.

31. ^ Green J, Ferrier S, Kocsis A, Shadrick J, Ukoumunne OC, Murphy S, Hetherton J. (2003). "Determinants of disclosure of genital herpes to partners.". Sex. Transm. Infect. 79 (1): 42-44. PubMed.



[edit]



External links



* Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections Resource Center from the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

* Center for Diseases Control Genital Herpes Fact Sheet

* Genital Shedding of Herpes Simplex Virus among Men

* Herpevac Trial for Women

* The American Social Health Organization

* Links to genital herpes pictures (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa)

* Mayo Clinic on Cold Sores



Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex_virus"



Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Sexually-transmitted diseases | Herpesviruses

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