High school wrestlers in the state of Minnesota are in the midst of an eight-day break from training due to an outbreak of the herpes gladiatorum. That’s a contangious skin infection that is spread by person to person contact.
The Minnesota State High School League suspended competition for an eight-day period earlier this week after 13 schools in the state reported wrestlers suffering from the condition. As of Wednesday, in the third day of the competition layoff, four more schools reported impacted wrestlers.
And researchers have pin-pointed a 32-team tournament in Rochester as being the probable place where the wide-spread reach of herpes gladiatorum sprung from.
But there are many in the high school wrestling community who think that this state-wide shutdown on action is an over reaction to dealing with the situation.
What do you think? Did the MSHSL overact or is this a wise prevention measure?
Here are some basic facts and figures about herpes gladiatorum that might help you form your opinion:
* It causes a rash that commonly appears on the face, neck, shoulder, and arms.
* Symptoms are usually a cluster of blisters that may or may not be painful.
* To be tested for the condition, health care providers take a culture to test for the herpes virus.
* The rash usually lasts seven to 10 days. It is important that those infected do not have skin contact with any uninfected person while they have the skin rash. A health care provider may prescribe a medicine called acyclovir (Zovirax) in a pill or an ointment form to speed your recovery.
* It is important to watch for any rashes so that they don't spread them to others. In many athletic leagues, wrestlers who have rashes are not allowed to compete. It is also important to routinely clean and disinfect wrestling mats.