Do you have herpes and do not know what to do? We tell you the types there are, how they are transmitted, ways to diagnose them, and treatments.
Do you know what VHS is? No, I am not referring to the video recording and playback device, but to the Herpes Simplex Virus, an incurable infection that, unfortunately, many people are unaware of even if they are carriers of it, and that is, according to data handled by Dosfarma, almost seven out of every 10 Spaniards suffer from VHS in one of its two versions and more than half do not know it.
It is usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and less commonly by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). These two viruses can affect the mouth or genitals and can be transmitted through oral sex, and even if you don’t see the sores, it’s contagious.
In terms of sex, there are 10% more women who suffer from it than men.
In both cases, it is very important to know that they are chronic infections that have no cure and that in most cases those who suffer from them are asymptomatic or their symptoms are mild and not recognized as herpes, so many people are unaware that they have it.
Almost seven out of 10 Spaniards suffer from VHS in one of its two versions and more than half do not know it
When cold sores manifest, it usually does so either on the outside of the mouth: on and around the lips, or inside: on the gums and palate. It appears in the form of vesicles or ulcers that are usually very painful and are popularly known as “cold sores”. Before its appearance, it is normal to notice itching or burning and a tingling sensation in the area.
On many occasions they can be confused with “cold sores”, small ulcers that have a whitish color inside and reddish on their edge, these are caused by fungi, a hormonal imbalance, insufficient vitamins,s, or too much stress in our day today. For this reason, and when in doubt, it is best to go to a specialist to diagnose our condition through an HSV test, which can be done in three ways:
- Test with a swab. In it, a clean cotton swab is rubbed against the sore to collect cells and fluid that will later be analyzed.
- Blood test. It is usually the most common, the medical professional will request a serological report. This test will look for antibodies to the herpes simplex virus since the virus itself is not detected. Remember that antibodies are proteins that the immune system produces to fight pathogens such as viruses or bacteria.
- Lumbar puncture. It is done very rarely and only if the specialist doctor considers that the patient may have an infection of the brain or spinal cord.
Herpes labialis is a recurrent infection, this means that after the first manifestation, the vesicles can periodically reappear in the form of outbreaks, although the severity and their number tend to decrease over time. As mentioned above, there is no cure and it usually goes away on its own in 10 to 15 days, but there are products and medications to mitigate its effects.
MOST EFFECTIVE MEDICINES AND TREATMENTS:
- Antiviral medications. Such as Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, or Penciclovir, although they do not eliminate the virus, they can help the outbreak to heal more quickly or even prevent its appearance. They are usually prescribed in the form of pills or can be found without a prescription in the form of a cream, in the case of the latter, they are very effective if applied when the first tingling symptoms appear prior to herpes, the recommendation is to do it 5 times a day For 5 days. In any case, our doctor should recommend the best treatment to follow.
- Treatments to relieve discomfort. In addition, over-the-counter creams without antivirals can also be used to treat dryness, itching, pain, and irritation caused by herpes, in this case, they do not serve to speed up the healing process but to relieve discomfort. We must remember that the creams should not be rubbed and after applying them wash our hands well.
- Preventive balms. Balms that prevent fevers are also very useful, these are for daily use, transparent and moisturizing and that create a protective film against herpes triggers thanks to their natural oils, in addition, they usually contain some type of UV filter so they also protect from solar rays.
