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By Lizzie On July 14, 2011
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Herpes is primarily a disease that does not choose its victim. It can affect anyone whether you are young, old, man or woman. Although it is a very common sexually transmitted disease, it can’t only be acquired or transmitted through sexual intercourse. It can be acquired even with mere skin contact with an active virus can. Aside from that, it can also affect the different parts of our body including the genitals, eyes, lips, mouth and even the brain. You may be able to see various genital, eyes and mouth herpes photos on women, men and children through the internet or health books.
The most common symptom of herpes is the presence of clusters of blisters in the affected area but aside from that, you may also experience fever, headaches, backaches, vaginal and penile discharge, muscle pains, painful urination and enlarged lymph nodes. It is vital to consult a medical professional once you experience these symptoms. This is because the herpes virus can be very easily transmitted to other people and can easily spread on the different parts of your body. Getting the right treatment at the earliest time possible will not only save you from the ordeal that it brings but it might also save the other people that you may affect.
There are various herpes cures that can be used to treat herpes. They are not necessarily conventional remedies but they can also be very simple home reliefs. Most herpes treatments involve using antiviral medications which can either be taken orally or can be applied externally. You can also help yourself get rid of herpes by making your immune system strong and living healthier. Remember that herpes can be avoided and by taking the necessary precautions, you do not have to go through the kind of suffering that the herpes virus brings.
Recent Posts By Lizzie On July 5, 2011 No Comments Herpes is an infection affecting the genitals of both sexes. It is caused by type 2 herpes simplex virus. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, and this means that it can be transferred through sexual contact.
Herpes is more common than we think, and about 16% of people below 50 years of age have it. The prevalence of this infection is higher in women than in men. Most of these people do not know they have the infection. It causes concern because a person can pass on the infection and he or she may be unaware of it.
The symptoms of herpes are hard to ignore during the first outbreak, which is the more severe than any succeeding outbreaks. The symptoms are noticed about two weeks after exposure to the virus. Painful sores appear, usually in clusters. You are most contagious when sores appear and break open. The period when blisters are visible can be from two weeks to a month.
Herpes can be mistaken for other skin infections, but unlike other infections, it does not heal through usual topical ointments. It is also accompanied by symptoms that resemble those of flu, symptoms like fever, headache, and weakness.
Medications for herpes only keep the virus at bay. There is no cure for herpes, and an infected would expect outbreaks in the future. The future outbreaks are milder however.
By Lizzie On July 4, 2011 No Comments The infection caused by herpes simplex virus can affect different parts of the body, from the genitals to the face. When the infection that appears inside the mouth and elsewhere in the face, including the nose, it is called cold sores. We call it nasal herpes when blisters and sores grow in or around the nose, and this infection is caused by the same virus that causes cold sores. The sores or blisters are painful and unpleasant to look at, although they are not serious in most cases. The sores are filled with fluid. They break open in a matter of days, and when they do, they are really painful and contagious.
The manner in which individuals are affected by the cold sore virus varies. Some people get an initial infection shortly after being exposed to the virus, while others suffer from manifestations of symptoms about three weeks after. The sores stay on the skin for about a week, after which healing occurs. The sores heal but the virus remains in the body and waits only for the next opportunity to cause another outbreak. The thing is that the succeeding infections are not as severe as the first one. The sores grow on the same place where they grew the first time. The recurrence can occur a few times in a year, but there are over the counter herpes treatment that reduces chances of recurrence.
By Lizzie On July 2, 2011 No Comments The virus that causes cold sores may infect the eyes and cause a condition called ocular herpes. Signs of ocular herpes are redness, watering, pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, and ulceration. The affected parts are the sclera and conjunctiva. The sclera is the white portion of the eye that surrounds the iris, while the conjunctiva is the lining of the eyelids and the sclera.
The redness can be mistaken as a manifestation of pink eye infection. Like any eye infection, ocular herpes also causes watery eyes, which happen because the tear ducts produce more fluid that counteracts the infection—a natural defense mechanism of our eyes. The affected eye becomes abnormally sensitive to bright lights. Hence, staying indoors or wearing of sunglasses becomes necessary.
In many cases, the cornea of the eye is affected. A swollen cornea will not refract light rays properly, and blurry vision results. What makes ocular herpes different from other common eye infections is the ulceration of the cornea. The ulceration occurs only on the outermost surface of the cornea, although deeper layers may be affected in a few cases. Scarring results when deep layers of the cornea are affected.
Ocular herpes treatment depends on the location of the lesions on the eyes. Superficial corneal ulceration can be treated through antiviral eye drops. Steroids are used for deeper corneal ulceration to lessen inflammation and prevent scarring.
By Lizzie On July 2, 2011 No Comments When you want to find out what herpes looks like, you should go see herpes pictures on the internet. There are hundreds of photos to see and you can compare what you see in them to what you are experiencing. The tricky thing about knowing whether you have herpes or not is that the symptoms mimic other diseases or skin infections. However, herpes is due to a virus called herpes simplex virus. This virus comes in two types, and the second type is the one that causes genital herpes. The other causes oral herpes, which is more commonly known as cold sores.
Herpes occurs when you have sex with an infected person. This is usually the means of transmission, and it seems as though females suffer more from it than males. A common indication of herpes is the presence of painful blisters on the penis or vagina. The blisters stay on the skin for about a week or so. The infection is at its most contagious state when the blisters break open on the skin surface. The sores should never be touched to avoid spread of the virus.
You may find more information about herpes by going to your doctor. Go to your GP when you notice sores on your genital area that do not respond to regular OTC skin ointments. You also need to go to your doctor if you suffer from fever and muscle pain, which are usually felt during the initial genital herpes outbreak.
By Lizzie On June 29, 2011 No Comments Symptoms of genital herpes develop gradually, and it usually takes about two weeks for the infection to manifest. The incubation, however, varies from person to person. One may suffer from symptoms within one week following exposure, while others may show no symptoms until a month after.
As seen in herpes pictures, early signs of the infection come as a rash or skin redness on the genital region. The rash is usually accompanied by an itchy or burning sensation. The patient feels as though he or she would suffer from flu, as headache, fever, muscular pains, and general weakness are felt. The lymph nodes in the groin also become swollen. Pain will be felt on the genital area as well as on the buttocks or anus. In some cases, the thighs and legs also become painful. You may also feel some pressure or discomfort in the lower abdomen.
It may be difficult for you to pin down herpes during the early stages because it feels like another infection. However, once the disease progresses and the blisters appear, you will figure out it’s not what you think it is. The appearance of blisters on the genital region should prompt you to see your physician for accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for herpes includes acyclovir or other antiviral drugs. These drugs do not cure the infection but makes it less intrusive and severe. In some cases, herpes may go away on its own, but drugs can help make outbreaks less severe.
By Lizzie On June 29, 2011 No Comments The symptoms of genital herpes may vary from patient to patient, especially in terms of severity and duration. You may suffer from severe outbreaks, for instance—while another may only suffer from mild blisters. However, the common thing about herpes is that it affects the genitals and produce blisters that come in clusters and become excruciating in a matter of days. It is also a sexually transmitted infection and can be highly contagious through physical contact.
You should learn to recognize the symptoms of herpes because you run a great chance of spreading the disease or contracting it if you don’t know what it is and what it looks like. The problem is that many people who suffer from herpes are unaware they have it. If you are suffering from blisters on your genital region, you have to go to your doctor to find out whether it’s another skin infection or it’s herpes.
The blisters look quite the same in men and women. In men, the blisters are seen on the penis, particularly on the shaft and on the glans. The skin around the anus may also be affected. In women, the vulva is affected, although blisters may also grow in the vagina, sometimes even on the cervix.
Before you look for a herpes cure, you have to consult your doctor. Keep in mind that there is no cure for herpes yet. Treatments only keep the virus at bay but do not eliminate it.
