what is herpes? How do people contract it, Who is most at risk for this disease?

Question

please be specific, give examples if needed. thanks =) this is for my health ed. class

Answer 1

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected.

HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.

Results of a nationally representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection increased 30 percent.

Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of five). This may be due to male-to-female transmissions being more likely than female-to-male transmission.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

I got clinically diagnosed with herpes simplex virus (type 2) about 4 years ago, when I was still attending college and had a stupid one-night stand. I know lots of young women say this, but I swear I had never done that sort of thing before. I just made a mistake that one time and all of a sudden I felt like I was going to have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life. The worst part was feeling I could never date other men again. After all, who wants to go out with a girl that has sores round her private parts? But since a friend shared this movie https://tr.im/a3Qkf everything improved.

Not only was I able to eliminate all traces of the herpes virus from my system in less than 3 weeks, but I was also able to start dating again. I even met the guy of my dreams and I'm so blessed to write that just a week ago, in front of everyone in a crowded restaurant, he got down on one knee and proposed to me!!! This method gave me back the opportunity to be happy and experience real love again. Now I want to help others too by sharing this story.

Answer 5

Herpes is the family name of a common group of viruses.
The Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 has been traditionallly associated with cold sores and HSV-2, traditionally associated with anogenital herpes --- though the incidence and prevalence of HSV-1 genital infection is increasing globally with marked variation between countries.

Once a person is infected they may have a single outbreak or have recurring ones over time. Most people's recurrences tend to slow after a few years. Recurrences can be triggered by: menstrual cycle, emotional stress, illness especially fever, sexual intercourse, surgery, sun exposure (incl tanning beds), and the use of certain meds.

Transmission:
-through direct vaginal, oral, anal sexual contact with an infected partner
-by receiving oral sex from a partner with a history of cold sores
-through asymptomatic shedding (transmission of the virus while there are no symptoms or lesions...in fact one study showed that 70% of trial participants seemed to be infected during this stage
-From an infected woman to her infant during delivery.
-Much less commonly through fomite transmission -- contact with contaminated objects such as towels.

Condoms have limited effectiveness preventing transm. because they do not cover the entire anogential region.

Females are at higher risk of acquiring genital herpes from a male partner than males are from a female partner

Approximately 60% of new infections (diagnosed at seroconversion) are asymptomatic and 40% are symptomatic. Of the symptomatic cohort, 80% present typically while 20% had an atypical presentation (no lesions, genital pain, urethritis, asept. meningitis and cervicitis, which are all recognized complications of a first episode genital infection

Symptoms, if you get them, may occur 2-21 days after exposure; usually after 6 days.
Prior to an outbreak you may feel a tingling, burning sensation where the virus first entered the skin or in the case of a recurrence , where there were lesions.
During an outbreak, painful sores (ext. or internal), inflammation and redness, fever, muscular pain, tender lymph nodes. An outbreak usually lasts 17 days for men and 23 days for women (on average).
Infection with genital HSV infection can increase the likelihood of becoming HIV + if exposed to the HIV virus, or increase the likelihood of transmission if you are HSV and HIV+.

-You should avoid sexual activity from the start of the burning/tingling symptoms until all lesions have completely healed, though many people are infected when no symptoms are present.
-Pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid fomite transmission

Though chronic in nature, herpes is a manageable infection. Counselling may be useful to help with relationship issues.

Treatment:
There are different regimens for primary episode, recurrent infections/episodic therapy, and suppressive therapy. For people with 6x / year outbreaks should be on suppressive daily therapy that reduces recurrent lesions, asymptomatic shedding, and transmission.

Answer 6

Everyones answers are great. You also asked who is most at risk... if you've have had sex with someone who wasn't a virgin (or was type tested specifically for HSV2, it doesn't show up on the standard STD screening) you are at risk, just like any STD. Condoms help reduce the risk but it isn't 100%. My story is stupid girl, dishonest guy. I've had it for 12 years.

Answer 7

I contracted Herpes II from my husband who has never had a symptom or breakout. I,however, have miserable breakouts a lot even on meds. He "viral sheds" the virus ever so often I guess and that's how I got it.

Answer 8

alli and b.j.c. do it again, beautifully said *applause*