Herpes Information - Information & Facts on the Herpes Virus.

Information & Facts on the Herpes Virus

What is Herpes Simplex?
Is the Herpes Virus common?
How is the Herpes Virus Spread?
Am I infected with the Herpes Virus?
Herpes Simplex Diagnosis & Testing
Herpes Virus Symptoms
Identifying Your Herpes Virus Type
Herpes Virus Treatment
How can contracting Herpes be prevented?
Conditions confused with the Herpes Virus

What is Herpes Simplex?

Herpes is a Sexually Transmitted Disease caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. There are two types of the Herpes Virus, Herpes Simplex 1 and Herpes Simplex 2.

Herpes Simplex 1 or "mouth herpes" is commonly in the form of cold sores on and around the mouth. Sunlight and Stress are known triggers of cold sore outbreaks.

Herpes Simplex 2 or "genital herpes" is a much more intense strand which is commonly found on the genitals and is generally considered to be sexually transmitted.

However BOTH types can be found on the mouth or genital areas. It is possible to be infected by both HSV 1 and 2. Being infected by one particular strand does not make you immune to another.

Is the Herpes Virus common?

Yes. It has been estimated that about 20% of the population have genital herpes and 90% have oral herpes (cold sores).

It is estimated that 40 million people have genital herpes which makes it a chronic viral infection. About 500,000 new people get symptomatic herpes each year and there are even more people without symptoms.

How is the Herpes Virus Spread?

Herpes is most easily spread when a sore is present, but, it is also often spread at other times too.

Some people notice itching, tingling or other sensations before they see anything on their skin. These are called "Prodromal Symptoms" and they warn that the virus may be present on the skin. Herpes is most likely to be spread from the time these first symptoms are noticed until the area is completely healed and the skin looks normal again. Any contact with the infected area is not recommended during this time.

One kind of complication involves spreading the virus from the location of an outbreak to other places on the body by touching the sores. The fingers, eyes, and other body areas can accidentally become infected in this way. Preventing self-infection is simple. Do not touch the area during an outbreak. If you do, wash your hands as soon as possible with soap and warm water. This will help prevent the virus from spreading further.

The spreading of genital herpes through inanimate objects, such as soap, towels, clothing, bed sheets, toilet seats, and spa surfaces is highly unlikely because the genital herpes virus cannot live very long outside of the body. Herpes is not spread through vaginal fluids, blood or semen, or like a flu virus that you can get through the air.

People who experience an episode of herpes, either facial or genital, should consider themselves infectious from the start of the episode up until the healing of the last ulcer.

In summary, the Herpes Virus can be spread by:

Touching an infected area. Skin-to-skin contact with the infected area can transmit Herpes Simplex 1 and Herpes Simplex 2.
Kissing someone if you have a cold sore can transfer the virus and the person you kiss can then contract herpes in the area kissed.
Any type of sexual contact with an infected area. For example, if you have a cold sore and put your mouth on a partner's genitals (oral sex), the partner can be infected with genital herpes. Consequently, oral sex should be avoided if one partner has a facial herpes attack.
Occasionally, one partner in a long-term relationship may develop symptoms of herpes for the first time. Often this is due to one or both of the partners being carriers of the Herpes Virus and not knowing it.
From mother to baby during pregnancy or at birth.

Am I infected with the Herpes Virus?

Many people who are infected with Genital Herpes (HSV2) are sometimes not aware of being infected. Some people do not have lesions, or may suffer only very mild, almost unnoticeable symptoms which are quite often mistaken for a rash or insect bites.

The only way to accurately know if you have been infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus is to visit your doctor or health care provider for a professional Herpes Diagnosis.

Symptoms of the Primary Episode can be quite pronounced, the first primary episode usually occurs up to two weeks after the virus is transmitted and usually heals within two to four weeks after appearing.

A Primary Episode of Genital Herpes can cause several symptomatic recurrences (on average 4 or 5 per year) with most recurrences more prevalent within the first year. Other symptoms may include flu-like symptoms including fever and swollen glands.

More information about Herpes Symptoms.

If you know that you or your partner are infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus, you should first become aware of how herpes can be spread and take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.

You or your partner may decide to use Dynamiclear to speed up the healing of outbreaks and to help eliminate any further recurrences. Always visit your local health care provider for professional information and guidance.

Herpes Simplex Diagnosis & Testing

There are several tests that are used to diagnose herpes, some are more accurate then others. Lots of people need to be tested more than once.

Blood tests are generally used in cases where no visible symptoms are present. A blood test works by detecting the presence of herpes antibodies. There is a possibility that the virus will not show up in a blood test, and a positive result is not always indicative that a person has genital herpes.

Firstly, after exposure to herpes, a person may take several weeks to develop the antibodies that the test looks for. Usually, it takes two weeks to three months after exposure to herpes for antibodies to appear in the blood. Some blood tests detect antibodies sooner than others.

Secondly, blood tests cannot tell the difference between the two types of Herpes Simplex. For this reason, anyone seeking an accurate diagnosis of genital herpes must be sure to get a type-specific serologic test, which can accurately distinguish between Herpes Simplex 1 antibodies and Herpes Simplex 2 antibodies. Most commercially available kit assays currently cannot make this distinction despite their claims.

If Active Symptoms. are present and the sores are not healed one should request a specific viral culture or assay for the herpes virus. A viral culture looks for the presence of the virus in the lesion. This method is very specific and does not frequently give a positive result when something else is the culprit.

The viral culture often misses herpes even when it is present. Often a patient who has received a negative culture result will be asked to come back again when a new genital lesion appears so the culture can be tried a second or third time.

Please seek immediate professional help if genital herpes is suspected. Some of the available diagnostic procedures become less reliable the longer you wait.

Herpes Virus Symptoms

Herpes Virus Symptoms do vary, with some people having very severe symptoms and others having no real noticeable symptoms. Symptoms develop usually within 2 to 20 days after contact, but could continue up to 2 weeks. Subsequent recurrences of the virus may cause an outbreak of blisters.

The first episode is usually the most severe, with most episodes lasting 10 to 21 days. A warning sign (prodrome) such as itching, burning or tingling is experienced by many people in recurring outbreaks. On the other hand, the first infection may be so mild it goes unnoticed.

If you are lucky enough to catch the virus in its early stages act as soon as you can with an application of Dynamiclear. New infections can be easy to combat and usually require less application.

When the Herpes Virus gets into skin cells it reproduces itself and starts to multiply, making the skin red and sensitive. Blisters or bumps may appear on the genital area, the blisters first opening and then healing with the regeneration of new skin tissue. Healing of the skin does not normally leave scarring. The virus then retreats into the nerves and lies dormant.

In summary, Herpes Virus Symptoms may include:

Flu-like symptoms such as Fever, Headache, Muscle aches and pains and lower back pain.
Swollen lymph glands.
Vaginal or penis discharge.
The infected area is usually painful and may itch, burn or tingle, during the outbreak.
Painful inflamed blisters develop around infected area.
Infection of the urethra causing a burning sensation when urinating.
small red bumps may appear in the genital area following earlier symptoms, later developing into painful blisters, which crust over, form a scab, and later heal.

Should any of these symptoms occur, consult your doctor or other health care provider immediately. Genital herpes should be diagnosed professionally.

Identifying Your Herpes Virus Type

Not everyone knows whether they have Herpes Simplex 1 or Herpes Simplex 2 and in certain situations that information could be relevant.

In a situation where both partners have Herpes Simplex 2, precautions should still be made to prevent the spread of Herpes to other "un-infected areas". For example, if one partner has Genital Herpes Simplex 1 and the other has Herpes Simplex 2, each might get infected with a second type.

Diagnosing Genital HSV1 is difficult because the infection seldom recurs. Since many people have HSV1 orally, a finding of HSV1 by Western blot serology (blood test) would not positively identify genital infection. A Western blot confirms if you have HSV2.

If you are seronegative (negative by blood test) for type 2, but positive for type 1, that gives you a strong clue as to the cause of your outbreaks (seropositive for type 1 but not type 2, with infrequent recurring genital herpes is probably genital HSV1).

Dynamiclear is effective on both Herpes Simplex 1 and Herpes Simplex 2 infections.

Herpes Virus Treatment

For any person that has active outbreaks of Herpes, Genital Herpes or Cold Sores, Dynamiclear can be beneficial because it dramatically speeds up the healing time of the herpes lesion, reduces the frequency and severity of any recurrences and continues to reduce the outbreaks with each application.

Many Dynamiclear users report that their outbreaks do not return after treatment, in some cases after a period of several years.

In many of these case studies the outbreaks had previously occurred on a regular basis, for long periods of time, before the patient began to use Dynamiclear. There are also reports of patients having no further outbreaks after only one topical application of Dynamiclear.

Want Proof? Read the Dynamiclear Customer Testimonials.

Diet and life-style changes are other approaches that can be beneficial in managing the Herpes Virus and it is a very good idea to strengthen the immune system in order to help your body combat the virus. Good rest, exercise and fresh fruit and vegetable juices will help strengthen the immune system.

There is scientific research to support a theory that Arginine, an amino acid, can aggravate herpes and bring on an outbreak. Foods containing arginine include nuts, chocolate and caffeine. If herpes outbreaks are a problem for you, see whether cutting back on these foods or eliminating them from your diet helps relieve your symptoms.

It has been found that the amino acid, Lysine, retards virus growth, so you should include in your diet foods high in Lysine and decrease the foods high in Arginine (an amino acid that supports the herpes virus).

With any disease or health condition an approach to improving diet and nutrition should be taken. An appropriate diet high in lysine and low in arginine, with vitamin supplements, may be beneficial for those suffering from viral diseases, in particular the herpes virus.

Herpes outbreaks, for some people, can be quite painful and discomforting. Below are some simple self-help remedies:

Salt Baths: Used to wash the genital area salt baths can clean, soothe and dry the sores. Use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful in a shallow bath.
Pain Relievers: include simple analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol. ice can be soothing if applied directly to the sores.
Loose Underclothes: By wearing loose underclothes that are preferably cotton (not nylon) during an outbreak, you can help minimize discomfort and allow healing.
Water Relief: For anyone experiencing extreme pain when urinating, the process can be less painful when done in a cool bath and it is important to remember to drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes the urine.
Bach Flower Remedies: May be prescribed to ease the emotional stress of herpes, particularly Rescue Remedy. Information on Bach Flower remedies

When using Dynamiclear take care to make the application after the area is clean and dry, and then leave the area to heal without disturbance.

How can contracting Herpes be prevented?

These steps can help to reduce the risk of infection and transmission:

Tell Your Partner. It is important to understand what herpes is and how it can be prevented. You and your partner will need to discuss which precautions are best and the social and emotional impacts of herpes.

Avoid sex during outbreaks as herpes is most contagious during this time. Many couples have had sexual relations for years without transmitting herpes. Some simply avoid having sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present, while others use condoms or other protection between outbreaks to help protect against asymptomatic shedding. Dynamiclear can be used to dry up and heal the outbreak, quickly and effectively, and to reduce any further episodes.

Avoid all contact with infected areas. Because of the highly contagious nature of this virus avoid any contact with an active herpes site, even if the blister is elsewhere on the body and not directly at a sexual organ. The fingers, eyes and other body areas can be accidentally infected by touching the sores. Preventing self-infection is simple. Do not touch the area during an outbreak, and if you do, wash your hands immediately.

Limit the number of sexual partners. By having sex with a non-infected partner who has sex only with you (mutual monogamy).

Use Latex Condoms between Outbreaks. Condoms offer useful protection against herpes protecting or covering the mucous membranes, the most likely sites of infection. The facts on condoms and foams:
- The herpes virus does not pass through latex condoms and, when properly used, latex condoms are likely to reduce your risk of spreading or getting herpes
- Even the best condoms do not guarantee total safety.
- When herpes sores occur in places not covered by a condom the condom is of little help in preventing transmission, if any.
- Condoms and foams should not be relied upon when herpes sores or symptoms are present.
- Spermicidal foams and jellies may offer additional protection. Spermicides used in contraceptive foams, film and gels kill or neutralize HSV in laboratory tests and may provide some protection when used in the vagina (recommended dose the same as for contraception).
- Some contraceptive foams contain ingredients (such as nonoxynol-9) that kill the herpes virus and other STDs in test tubes.
- Foams are best used along with condoms, not in place of condoms.
- Condoms do not provide 100 percent protection because a lesion may be found which the condom did not cover. Used consistently, however, condoms are the best available form of prevention aside from abstinence.

Women with any sexually transmitted disease (STD) may be at greater risk of developing cervical cancer than other women. All women should have regular Pap Tests at least once a year, as early cell changes can be detected by Pap Smears. Visit a local sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, hospital, doctor or health professional.

Conditions confused with the Herpes Virus

Listed below are conditions that are sometimes mistaken for herpes:

Canker Sores (aphthous ulcers): Usually occur inside the mouth, are grey with a distinct edge and usually heal within 10 to 14 days without treatment.

Bacterial or Yeast Infections: Sometimes confused with Genital Herpes, but does not usually produce blistering.

Impetigo: A highly infectious bacterial disease, more common among children often producing crusty blisters.

Syphilis: A bacterial infection, causes chancres sometimes mistaken for blisters caused by Genital Herpes. Unlike Genital Herpes, Syphilis does not usually produce a cluster of blisters, and it usually responds well to antibiotics.

Molluscum Contagiosum (molluscum): Like the Herpes Virus, molluscum is a viral infection of the skin. Unlike Herpes, molluscum produces lesions that are raised, with a central dimple.

If you suspect that you have a health problem please consult your doctor or other health care provider immediately. Genital herpes, and other conditions, should be diagnosed professionally.