WHAT IS HERPES?
Herpes is a highly contagious virus that can be spread many ways the most common ways including kissing, sexual contact such as vaginal, anal or oral sex. Herpes can also be spread through nonsexual contact. It can appear on different areas of the body causing sores, blisters and other irritations to the skin. Some people have mild or no symtoms at all and may spread the disease without realizing they are carrying the virus.
What are the Symptoms?
There are two types of herpes simplex viruses:
1) Herpes Type 1 (HSV-1), referred as “Oral Herpes”;
2) Herpes Type 2 (HSV-2), referred as “Genital Herpes”
The absence of blisters doesn’t mean you don’t have herpes as initial outbreak might not happen until months of even years after becoming infected.
Below are the most common signs of herpes infection:
- A burning or tingling sensation
- Small or large blisters
- Skin redness, swelling, rash, or itching feeling
- Painful or may not be painful near the infection area
- Early herpes symptoms may be flu like
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or groin area
- In women, vaginal discharge
- An open sore or ulcer
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or groin area
- Muscle aches
- Cracked, raw or red areas around your genitals
- Normal skin and no symptoms
How many Herpes Viruses are there?
There are 25 types of herpes viruses. Herpes viruses are a leading cause of human viral diseases, second only to influenza and cold viruses. Some may remaining silent for many years, for example shingles.
The following are eight human herpes viruses types:
- Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1)
- Herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2)
- Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV
- Human Herpes virus 6 (HHV-6)
- Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) or
- Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus)
Prescription Drugs and Side Effects
Unfortunately, unlike Mediviral, side effects for prescription drugs can be severe ranging from headaches to such extreme as kidney damage.
Below are most common side effects from prescription medicines like Zovirax or Valtrex:
- an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your throat, lips, tongue, or face
- urinating less than usual or not at all
- easy bruising or bleeding
- unusual weakness
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- stomach pain
- headache or feeling light-headed
- swelling in your hands or feet
- pale or yellowed skin
- dark colored uring, urinating less than usual or not at all
- fever
- pain in lower back
- drowsiness
- increased thirst
- loss of appetite
- swelling
- weight gain
- feeling short of breath
- confusion, agitation, aggression, hallucinations, trouble concentrating, mood changes
- feeling shaky or unsteady
- problems with speech or vision
- seizures
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- headache
- dizziness
- tired feeling
- joint pain
- menstrual pain
- mild skin rash
- stuffed nose
- sore throat
Herpes Outbreaks can get extremely severe.
