Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. HSV-2 can be spread through secretions from the mouth or genitals. Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.

Genital HSV-2 infections is more common in women (approximately 1 of every 4 women is infected) than it is in men (nearly 1 of every 8 men is infected).

If a woman has her first episode of genital herpes while she is pregnant, she can pass the virus to her unborn child and may deliver a premature baby. Half of the babies infected with herpes either die or suffer from damage to their nerves. A baby born with herpes can develop serious problems that may affect the brain, the skin, or the eyes.

Symptoms and signs:-

If signs and symptoms do occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite severe. This first outbreak usually happens within 2 weeks of being infected.

Generalized symptoms may include:

•Decreased appetite

•Fever

•General sick feeling (Malaise)

•Muscle aches in the lower back, buttocks, thighs, or knees Genital symptoms include the appearance of small, painful blisters filled with clear or straw-colored fluid. They are usually found:

•In women: on the outer vaginal lips, vagina, cervix, around the anus, and on the thighs or buttocks

•In men: on the penis, scrotum, around the anus, on the thighs or buttocks

•In both sexes: on the tongue, mouth, eyes, gums, lips, fingers, and other parts of the body

•Before the blisters appear, the person may feel the skin tingling, burning, itching, or have pain at the site where the blisters will appear

•When the blisters break, they leave shallow ulcers that are very painful. These ulcers eventually crust over and slowly heal over 7 - 14 days or more

Other symptoms that may occur include:

•Enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the groin during an outbreak

•Painful urination

•Women may have vaginal discharge or, occasionally, be unable to empty the bladder and require a urinary catheter.

A second outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first. It is almost always less severe and shorter than the first outbreak. Over time, the number of outbreaks may decrease.

Once a person is infected, however, the virus hides within nerve cells and remains in the body. The virus can remain "asleep" (dormant) for a long period of time (this is called latency).

The infection can flare-up or reactivate at any time. Events that can trigger latent infection to become active and bring on anoutbreak include:

•Fatigue

•Genital irritation

•Physical or emotional stress

•Trauma

Attacks can recur as seldom as once per year, or so often that the symptoms seem continuous. Recurrent infections in men are generally milder and shorter than those in women.

Investigations:-

Tests can be done on skin sores or blisters to diagnose herpes. These tests are most often done when someone has a first outbreak and when a pregnant woman develops genital herpes symptoms.

•Culture of fluid from a blister or open sore may be positive for herpes simplex virus. It is most useful during the first outbreak.

•A test called PCR performed on fluid from a blister shows small amounts of DNA. It is the most accurate test to tell whether the herpes virus is present in the blister.

•Blood tests check for antibody levels to the herpes virus.

Homeopathic Treatments

There is very effective treatment to cure Herpes Simplex in Homeopathy.Homeopathic remedy not only treats symptoms and controls outbreaks but also prevent recurrences. This is not a suppressive therapy but curative one and hence stops outbreaks of Genital Herpes.

The best part is that homeopathic medicines do not have short-term or long-term side effects of any kind even if taken for a longer period of time. Homoeopathic medicine stops genital outbreaks before any blisters could appear several times. The results varies depending on how severe my outbreaks. Homeopathic treatment for genital herpes is very efficient from the starting. But have to take long time around 6 months for very good results.