What is genital herpes?
Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease of the genital area with genital Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2, a DNA virus of the Herpes viridae family.
Herpes simplex type II virus is the most common cause of genital herpes but can be due to herpes simplex type I virus which is more commonly associated with cold sores around the mouth.
Treatment of Genital Herpes
A number of treatments offering effective relief from symptoms of genital herpes have been developed.
The following treatments can reduce the pain and discomfort of genital sores:
- Salt baths, used to wash the genital area, can clean, soothe and dry the sores. One teaspoon of salt in 600 ml of water (about a handful) is recommended in a shallow bath.
- Analgesics (such as aspirin and paracetamol, or ibuprofen), ice (which can be soothing if applied directly to the sores) and creams with an anaesthetic component. Creams can slow down drying and should therefore be used sparingly and only for pain relief. In addition, topical creams have limited value on moist mucosal surfaces, particularly in women.
- Loose underclothes, preferably cotton, can help minimize discomfort and exacerbate healing. Nylon should be avoided
Antiviral Therapy For Treatment of Genital Herpes
The standard, effective and specific treatment for genital herpes is antiviral therapy, which is usually in tablet form. Antiviral drugs stop HSV from replicating in the body. The treatment only works while you are taking the drug, and cannot prevent future outbreaks once you stop taking it.
Antiviral treatments can:
- shorten the duration of a genital herpes outbreak and help speed healing
- reduce the number of outbreaks suffered - or prevent them completely.
Antiviral medications can be used:
1. With episodic treatment, the aim is to shorten the time each outbreak lasts and to relieve symptoms. If you are coping well and your outbreaks are not too frequent, you and your doctor may agree that episodic treatment is the most appropriate option.
2. 'Suppressive' therapy. If your recurrent outbreaks are frequent or severe - or if you find them particularly bothersome - your doctor may recommend that you take oral antiviral medication every day to help prevent outbreaks happening. Suppressive therapy is taken continuously, e.g. daily, for months or even years.
Oral antiviral medication is only available by prescription. If you are taking 'episodic' therapy then the earlier treatment starts after symptoms of an outbreak first appear, the more effective it will be. Ask your doctor to prescribe treatment in advance so that you can self-initiate immediately you detect the early symptoms of a herpes episode.
Aciclovir
When aciclovir is taken as episodic treatment, it can reduce the severity of outbreaks of genital herpes and shorten their duration.
Aciclovir also shortens the time during which the herpes virus is detected on skin surfaces.
Aciclovir is available as tablets or cream for local application.
As episodic treatment, aciclovir should be taken five times a day.
Aciclovir can also be used as suppressive treatment to help reduce the number of outbreaks. For suppressive treatment, you will need to take tablets two, three or four times a day.
The side effects of aciclovir are usually mild. They include nausea and diarrhoea.
Picture genital herpes treatment - Aciclovir (Zovirax) . Tablets and Cream
Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-
- Does Frequency of Genital Herpes Recurrences Predict Risk of Transmission? Further Analysis of the Valacyclovir Transmission Study.(2008-01)
- Trends in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 Infections Among Patients Diagnosed With Genital Herpes in a Finnish Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic, 1994-2002. (2007-01)
- Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 in attendees of a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Singapore. (2006-01)
- Valacyclovir prophylaxis to prevent recurrent herpes at delivery: a randomized clinical trial. (2006-02)
- Maternal herpes simplex virus antibody avidity and risk of neonatal herpes. (2006-03)
- Genital herpes complicating pregnancy. (2005-01)
- Preventing herpes simplex virus transmission to the neonate. (2004-01)
- Effect of serologic status and cesarean delivery on transmission rates of herpes simplex virus from mother to infant. (2003-01)
- Debate: the argument against. Should all pregnant women be offered type-specific serological screening for HSV infection? (2002-01)
- The management of recurrent genital herpes infection in pregnancy: a postal survey of obstetric practice. (1995-01)
- Herpes simplex virus infection in pregnancy. (1993-01)
- Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: a report of 43 patients. (1989-01)
- Failure of antepartum maternal cultures to predict the infant's risk of exposure to herpes simplex virus at delivery. (1986-01)
