Herpes

Running Head : Herpes

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Herpes is caused by the herpes simple virus . There are two types of herpes simplex virus that is the HSV-1 and HSV-2 . The HSV-1 is responsible for oral infections and it causes sores or ulcers inside or around the mouth . The HSV-2 type is relatively intense and it causes genital herpes although both of them can affect both the mouth and the genitals . This will focus on genital herpes , the signs and symptoms , the disease process , the diagnosis

, complications as well as the treatment options

Greg Saulmon in his book genital herpes estimates that the disease affects approximately 45 million Americans above 12 years of age and this is the same as saying that one in every five adults and adolescents has it . There is no known cure for the diseases and this could be the reason behind it causing much psychological distress among those infected . Greg explains that approximately one million people are affected each year and over 90 of them are not aware that they have the disease (Saulmon , 2006

Signs and symptoms

Some people will generally not show any signs or symptoms of the diseases and they may know that they have it a long time after they are infected . However , when symptoms appear they are in form of sores or blisters around or on the rectum or the genitals . The sores or blisters occur in form of outbreaks and after the initial outbreak a second one follows which is less intense or severe (Saulmon , 2006 .The outbreaks become less severe with time and it is estimated that one can register 4-5 recurrent outbreaks in one year

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC other symptoms associated with the disease in addition to the recurrent occurrence of sores include a fever and swollen glands . Some people may confuse the sores with insect bites or other skin conditions and consequently fail to seek medical attention with The disease process

The HSV-2 can be transmitted through skin to skin contact regardless of whether the person in question has visible sores or blisters (Saulmon 2006 . Contact with the mucous membrane of an infected person also enhances transmission of the disease for instance sexual contacts . On entry into a host the virus may remain dormant for quite some time a period within which no signs are registered but the virus keeps multiplying . After some time , the virus becomes active at varied times causing the outbreaks and this could be after 6-8 days (Saulmon , 2006 The initial outbreak heals in two to six weeks but in the recurrent outbreaks this span is reduced to a week . This is a clear indication that the first outbreak is mostly extensive or severe

Complications

Although genital herpes is not fatal despite the fact that it is a lifelong , recurrent sexually transmitted disease it causes much concern in its role in the spread of HIV . Due to the sores or ulcers formed the...