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.
Recommended Books:
Genital
Herpes
Pamphlet
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:-
Do you have an unanswered women's health question?
Please let us have your general question on our
NEW FORUM
/ MESSAGE BOARDS facility and we will try to answer
it for you. I am sure that you will appreciate that we cannot
offer advice on the management of an individual's specific problem.
DISCLAIMER
The aim of this web site is to provide a general
guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a consultation
with an appropriate specialist in respect of individual care
and treatment.
Women's
Health Home Page
|
