Herpes simplex is a disease caused by two types of viruses called the HSV-1 and the HSV-2. They can affect a person orally or the genitalias. Oral herpes is usually caused by HSV-1 while genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.
What are the other things you should know about herpes?
The most important thing you should know about herpes is that it can be contracted sexually. Thus, it is very important that if you have a new sexual partner, you should both be screened for STD’s before having any sexual contact. Contrary to what many of us believe, over the counter medications will do no good for someone who has herpes.
Things you should know about herpes that infects the lips or herpes labialis:
These infections are, actually, what is more commonly called cold sores or fever blisters. Other signs that you have contracted herpes labialis include headaches, dizziness, nausea and painful ulcers that often look like canker sores. Infected people may also experience fever and a sore throat. They do not always show up at first so it can be hard to tell if you are infected or not but generally, if the symptoms do appear, they can disappear in two weeks. However, even if the sores and blisters did disappear from the mouth, it does not mean that the virus HSV-1 has also been removed.
Things you should know about herpes that infects the genitals or herpes genitalis:
This type of herpes is usually caused by HSV-2 but in recent cases, it has also been found that HSV-1 had become a culprit for this disease. The bad news about genital herpes is that they commonly do not show signs and symptoms and thus, spread of the virus is commonplace. However, for cases that show symptoms, genital sores are often visible in the infected area. Lesions could be visible on the glans penis, other parts of the genital area, the buttocks and inner thighs as well as the anus in males. For females, these sores could be found in the labia, the vulva, pubis, clitoris as well as on the buttocks and anus.
Sometimes, people who have caught genital herpes may also experience headaches, muscle pain, discharge from the penis or vagina and fever, as well as swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually appear, if they do, four to seven days after catching the virus. They stay on for two to three weeks until the lesions become ulcers. When they dry out, they became crusts and they start to heal. This, however, does not necessarily mean that the virus has gone away.
Things you should know about herpes and treating the disease:
Antiviral medications, topical treatments and other drugs are often used to treat herpes – but they are not used to prevent a person from catching the disease. For severe cases, it would be best to consult a doctor no matter how embarrassing it may be. To prevent catching the virus, a person should be screened for STDs or and use condoms for protection.
Although there is no definitive cure available for Herpes, there are effective treatments available that can make coping with Herpes much easier. Find out more about our recommended Natural Herpes Treatment.