Genital Herpes: How To Diagnose & Treat It
How Is Herpes Diagnosed?Although symptoms can vary greatly, detecting herpes is relatively simple.
A culture involves a doctor swabbing or scraping a sore and sending the culture to the lab. Many times, the doctor's tests may come back negative even if an individual does indeed have herpes.
A blood test can indicate if a person has, at any time, been infected with the herpes virus, but it cannot determine whether or not someone can spread the virus to another person.
As well, there are new blood tests available that can help doctors figure out whether an individual has been infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Unfortunately, they are being used for research purposes and are not widely available to doctors.
Not A Dangerous DiseaseIt is important to be aware that herpes, for the most part, is not dangerous disease. The disease is simply a nuisance and may have a traumatic effect on certain people when they realize that they may have the disease. After all, having to reveal to any and all future partners that you have herpes is not exactly enticing.
However, if someone has an immune deficiency, such as advanced HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), fighting the virus may be extremely difficult. As well, since herpes outbreaks sometimes lead to open sores, those with the disease are at an increased risk of developing HIV and AIDS.
How Is It Transmitted?The transmission of herpes is caused by close contact with the anal, genital or oral region of someone who already has the disease (anytime there is an exchange of bodily fluids, the likelihood of acquiring the disease is increased). As aforementioned, because certain people develop different symptoms and outbreaks, it is possible that the infected person may not even be aware that they have herpes.
And if that's not bad enough, herpes is potentially contagious even when the virus is dormant.
Keep in mind, however, that although there have been reports that one can acquire the disease via infected toilet seats or hot tubs, this has never been proven.
Treatment OptionsThere is no cure for herpes, so if you acquire the disease, you'll have it for life. Of course, so long as your immune system functions at an optimal level, herpes is a relatively harmless disease.
Luckily, there are many treatment options available for those who have herpes. A drug called FAMVIR® (famciclovir) provides patients with three ways of taking its oral medication:
1- Episodic treatment: For patients whose outbreaks are rare and perhaps mild, treating the outbreaks as they occur is the best option. The dosage involves taking a tablet (125mg) twice a day, for only five days.
2- Suppressive therapy: For patients who endure severe, constant outbreaks, suppressive therapy is the best option. The dosage is constant and includes taking one pill (250mg) twice a day, for about one year. Keep in mind, however, that suppressive therapy may not eliminate outbreaks altogether.
3- Patients with HIV: For those infected with HIV, the dosage, upon outbreaks, includes taking one pill (500mg) twice a day, for one week.
As with all prescription drugs, FAMVIR may lead to side effects such as headache, nausea and diarrhea. If you have or think you might have genital herpes, inform yourselfabout what you can do about it.
Be CarefulThe chances of contracting herpes is high, especially considering that many people don't even realize they have the disease. And although condoms may decrease your chances of getting it, it doesn't eliminate them altogether.
The best method of prevention at this point is smart sex. Get tested for STDs every six months and make sure that you practice the safest sex possible.
This article is brought to you in part by FAMVIR.com