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Genital herpes

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Genital herpes
SpecialtyInfectious diseases Edit this on Wikidata

Herpes genitalis (or genital herpes) refers to a genital infection by herpes simplex virus.

Following the classification HSV into two distinct categories of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in the 1960s,[1][2] it was established that "HSV-2 was below the waist, HSV-1 was above the waist". Although genital herpes is largely believed to be caused by HSV-2, genital HSV-1 infections are increasing and now exceed 50% in certain populations, [3][4][5] and that rule of thumb no longer applies. HSV is believed to be asymptomatic in the majority of cases, thus aiding contagion and hindering containment.

When symptomatic, the typical manifestation of a primary HSV-1 or HSV-2 genital infection is clusters of genital sores consisting of inflamed papules and vesicles on the outer surface of the genitals resembling cold sores.[6] These usually appear 4–7 days after sexual exposure to HSV for the first time.[7] Genital HSV-1 infection recurs at rate of about one sixth of that of genital HSV-2.[8] In males, the lesions occur on the glans penis, shaft of the penis or other parts of the genital region, on the inner thigh, buttocks, or anus. In females, lesions appear on or near the pubis, labia, clitoris, vulva, buttocks or anus.[6] Other common symptoms include pain, itching, and burning. Less frequent, yet still common, symptoms include discharge from the penis or vagina, fever, headache, muscle pain (myalgia), swollen and enlarged lymph nodes and malaise.[7] Women often experience additional symptoms that include painful urination (dysuria) and cervicitis. Herpetic proctitis (inflammation of the anus and rectum) is common for individuals participating in anal intercourse.[7] After 2–3 weeks, existing lesions progress into ulcers and then crust and heal, although lesions on mucosal surfaces may never form crusts.[7] In rare cases, involvement of the sacral region of the spinal cord can cause acute urinary retention and one-sided symptoms and signs of myeloradiculitis (a combination of myelitis and radiculitis): pain, sensory loss, abnormal sensations (paresthesia) and rash.[9][10] Historically this has been termed Elsberg syndrome, although this entity is not clearly defined.[9]

Treatment

Medical research has not been able to find a way to halt the spread of herpes and the number of infected people keeps growing. Only in the United States, 45 million people are infected and one million new infections occur every year. [11]

Genital herpes cannot be cured. Moreover, genital herpes can be transmitted to other people even when the infected person does not experience any symptoms. There are however some drugs that can shorten outbreaks and make them less severe or even stop them from happening. Among these drugs one can find are: acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. [12]

Acyclovir is an antiviral drug used against herpes viruses, varicella-zoster, and Epstein-Barr Viruses. This drug reduces the pain and the number of lesions in the initial case of genital herpes. Furthermore, it decreases the frequency and severity of recurrent infections. It comes in capsules, tablets, suspension, injection, powder for injection, and ointment. The ointment is used topically and it decreases pain, reduces healing time, and limits the spread of the infection. [13]

Valacyclovir is also used to treat herpes virus infections. Once in your body, it becomes the anti-herpes medicine, acylovir. It helps relieve the pain and discomfort and the sores heal faster. It only comes in caplets and its advantage is that it has a longer duration of action than acylovir. [14]

Famciclovir is another antiviral drug that belongs to the same class of acyclovir and valacyclovir. Farnciclovir is a “prodrug” that is converted to penciclovir in the body. The latter is the one active against the viruses. This drug has a longer duration of action than acyclovir and it only comes in tablets. [15]

Natural Therapies

There are also some natural therapies or remedies that are said to help reduce the symptoms. However such natural therapies may not be supported by scientific evidence and thus their efficacy is hard to be proven.

Some natural therapies found are: red marine alga (antiviral blocker), blue-green alga Spirulina platensis (antiviral agent), Micronutrient (episode supressor), Colostrum immunoglobulins (anti-microbial for infants), Beta-mannan (promotes healing), olive leaf (oleuropein-antioxidant boots immune responders) and Vitamin C (antiviral nutrient). [16]

Also, aloe vera, tea tree oil, melissa (lemon balm), comfrey, myrrh (in tincture form), and eucalyptus may be used to relieve pain of herpes. Topical creams are also made that contain herbs and amino acids in a soothing base of allantoin, sweet almond oil, or aloe vera. [17]

Homeopathy also claims to offer some remedies to treat genital herpes. Some of these remedies are: Natrum mur, Petroleum Causticum, Crot-t, Dulcamara, Graphites, Hepar-sulph, Medorrihinum, Merc-sol, Sepia, Tellerium, Thuja, Anancardium, Aur-met, Calcarea, Crot-h, Jug-r, Nit-ac, Ph-ac, Sars, Sil, Ter, Rhus-tox. [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dowdle Wr, Nahmias AJ, Harwell RW, Pauls FP. (1967). "Association of antigenic type of Herpesvirus hominis with site of viral recovery". J Immunol. 99(5) (5): 974–80. PMID 4295116.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Nahmias Aj, Dowdle W.R. (1968). "Antigenic and biologic differences in herpesvirus hominis". Prog Med Virol. 10: 110–59. PMID 4304588.
  3. ^ Ribes Ja, Steele AD, Seabolt JP, Baker DJ (2001 Sep). "Six-year study of the incidence of herpes in genital and nongenital cultures in a central Kentucky medical center patient population". J Clin Microbiol. 39(9) (9): 3321–5. doi:10.1128/JCM.39.9.3321-3325.2001. PMC 88338. PMID 11526170. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ Mertz Gj, Rosenthal SL, Stanberry LR (2003 Oct). "Is Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) Now More Common than HSV-2 in First Episodes of Genital Herpes?" (PDF). Sex Trans Dis. 30(10) (10): 801–802. doi:10.1097/01.OLQ.0000093080.55201.D1. PMID 14520182. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  5. ^ Coyle Pv, O'neill HJ, Wyatt DE, McCaughey C, Quah S, McBride MO (2003 May). "Emergence of herpes simplex type 1 as the main cause of recurrent genital ulcerative disease in women in Northern Ireland". J Clin Virol. 27(1) (1): 22–9. PMID 12727525. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ^ a b "STD Facts - Genital Herpes". Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  7. ^ a b c d Gupta R, Warren T, Wald A (2007). "Genital herpes". Lancet. 370 (9605): 2127–37. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61908-4. PMID 18156035.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lafferty We, Coombs RW, Benedetti J, Critchlow C, Corey L (1987 June 4). "Recurrences after oral and genital herpes simplex virus infection. Influence of site of infection and viral type". N Engl J Med. 316(23) (23): 1444–9. PMID 3033506. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b Sakakibara R, Yamanishi T, Uchiyama T, Hattori T (2006). "Acute urinary retention due to benign inflammatory nervous diseases". Journal of neurology. 253 (8): 1103–10. doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0189-9. PMID 16680560. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Vonk P (1993). "Elsberg syndrome: acute urinary retention following a viral infection". Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (in Dutch; Flemish). 137 (50): 2603–5. PMID 8277988. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. ^ "Genital Herpes". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  12. ^ "Genital Herpes Treatment". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  13. ^ "Medications and Drugs". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  14. ^ "Brand Name: Valtrex". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  15. ^ "Brand Name: Famvir". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  16. ^ "Genital Herpes Treatment". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  17. ^ "Natural Remedies for Herpes". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  18. ^ "Homeopathic Medicines for Genital Herpes". Retrieved 2010-05-03.
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