An Herpes: Overview
Herpes: Any of several viral diseases
causing the eruption of small blisterlike
vesicles on the skin or mucous
membranes
Spread by direct contact
Herpes can make people more susceptible
to HIV infection and vice versa
20 25% of adults over the age of 18
have genital herpes
Herpetic whitlow, herpes gladitorum,
ocular herpes, cerebral herpes
encephalitis, Mollarets meningitis,
Two types of HSV
HSV-1: Oral infections (herpes labialis or cold
sores)
HSV-2: Genital infection (herrpes genitalium or
genital herpes) Primary infection refers to the first
time an individual is infected with any type of HSV.
This primary event may or may not be accompanied
by clinical symptoms and the individual may be
unaware of the infection
Once HSV has infected an individual it, will
remain in the body for life, hidden in a dormant
state inside nerve cells
Infection with HSV-1 does not imply infection
with HSV-2
Only a lab test looking for HSV-1 or HSV-2
antibodies can confirm infection.
Herpes lesions can be on many body parts,
including eyes, fingers (herpetic whitlow), and
arms and torsos of athletes (herpes
gladitorium)
The word Herpes is derived from herpein,
which is Greek for creeping. The main symptom
of most
Herpes viruses is a skin rash that spreads, or
creeps.
Symptoms
Symptoms
Small red bumps may appear at the site of
infection (vaginal area, cervix, penis,
urinary tract of both men and women,
around anal opening)
Other symptoms include fever, headache,
muscle aches, swollen glands in the groin
area, painful urination, and vaginal
discharge
Up to 60% of people show no symptoms
Two types of herpes, HSV-1 (oral) and
HSV-2 (genital)
More than 80% of the adult population has
HSV-1
A recent study suggests this number could
actually be 98%
Outbreaks may be caused by a variety of
factors including:
Drinking excessively
Being run down
Ultraviolet light
80% will have at least one reoccurrence in
their lifetime.
Herpes as a Cultural
Phenomenon
A Brief History
Herpes has been around for over 2,000
years
After its exposure as a virus in the 40s,
people changed behaviors
So you have herpes
Many people go through stages similar to
mourning when they realize that theyve
contracted the virus
The Leper Effect
Gender and Class Differences
The virus is more physically and
emotionally painful in women
Women report being more honest about it
than men
Male to female transmission is more
efficient than female to male transmission.
Wealthy people are more likely to contract
the disease
Genital herpes is twice as common among
Celebrities with Herpes
Anne Heche
Robin Williams
Adam Sandler
David Hasslehoff
Liza Mennelli
Paris Hilton
Michael Vick
Herpes Taboo
Herpes as was not stigmatized until the 1975,
by the pharmaceutical companies
(disease mongering)
Pharmaceutical companies normalizing
the disease, while selling the medication
Relationships & Herpes
Relationship with genital
herpes carrier, how long
before youare in relationships with a
get the disease?
For those who
genital herpes carrier: how long into the
relationship that you finally get the
disease, or are you still healthy by now?
Are you male or female? Any tips to
minimize the risk?
Personal experiences
There are many couples out there with
one person who has genital herpes and
the other person doesn't. There are ways
to help prevent the spread of genital
herpes. Comments from a women in her
late 20s with genital herpes whom wish to
remain anonymous. (I was personally in a
relationship for four years with a guy who
didn't have genital herpes and when we
broke up he still didn't have the virus. He
How long until you get it as a
partner?
If a person has sex with another person
who has genital herpes though, there is
ALWAYS going to be a chance that the
virus will spread, even if condoms are
used. Condoms ONLY cover the penis and
not the entire genital area. Herpes can be
spread by DIRECT skin to skin contact.
So, just the rubbing back and forth of the
genital skin during sex or foreplay is
enough to spread the virus.
Tips to minimize risk
Condoms HELP prevent the spread of the
virus, antiviral medication HELPS, and not
having sex or doing anything sexual while
the person is on an outbreak can HELP
prevent spreading the virus, but nothing is
truly 100% effective except for abstinence.
Medical Treatment
The exposure timeline varies from person
to person
An outbreak will occur 2-10 days after
exposure to disease
Over a period of days, sores become
encrusted and heal without scarring
Someone just got
herpes
Wait 30
seconds..
Pregnancy and Herpes
Pregnancy and Herpes
5% of child bearing women report a
history of herpes, up to 30% have
antibodies for the HSV-2
2% of women acquire herpes during
pregnancy
1500 2000 new cases of neonatal HSV
infections are diagnosed each year
Untreated neonatal HSV infection
contribute to 60% mortality rate
Pregnancy and Herpes (cont.)
If sores are discovered or the mother
exhibits signs of an eminent outbreak, a Csection will be performed
Antiviral drugs are taken daily
Suppressive therapy or occupational
therapy for outbreaks
Medical Treatment
There is no cure for herpes
Treatment is possible with a prescription of
antiviral medication
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
Famcicloyir (Famvir)
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Drugs taken orally, intravenously, or topically
Docanosol cream, purchased over-thecounter for cold sores
Fin