Nowadays herpes is one disease that is growing public attention. One out of five Americans has herpes. Each year more than five hundred thousand people are diagnosed with the case, either the active or the dormant form. Herpes is of two kinds, genital herpes, caused by Herpes Simplex-2 virus, and cold sore that is caused by Herpes Simplex-1 Virus. The main difference is the place where it appears. Genital herpes is contagious, and is characterized by persistent clusters of vesicles and lesions at the genital organs. Even though, whether you have one or not, it is a good idea to keep your self informed about it. After all, prevention is better than cure. Herpes diagnosis is simple. Your doctor takes samples from the area that is suspected to be infected by the virus and sends it to a laboratory for a test conducted through cell culture, antigen test or Pap smear. Blood test can also be used if the person does not possess any visible symptoms.
Herpes can be transmitted through genital, oral or anal contact during intercourse, masturbation or kissing. It can also be transmitted by any direct skin contact since it permits the exchange of bodily fluids. A person that is diagnosed with herpes has a seventy five percent chance of transmitting the virus to its sexual counterpart every time. This person can even spread the virus to other parts of the body through touching a part of the body that is shedding the virus, followed by scratching and touching other parts as simply as in using and sharing towels. There is also transmission from genital virus to oral herpes and vice versa. The main cause of infection is intimacy.
Herpes can also be transmitted from mother to child during labor. If the mother is infected with herpes, she should discuss it with her doctor and have tests done if there will be a herpes outbreak when the woman goes into labor. If there are no signs of herpes outbreak in the birth canal, delivery through the vagina can be considered safe. Otherwise Cesarean section might be necessary for delivering the baby in order to protect the baby from the herpes infection.
The above scenario is not the sole way for babies to get herpes. If a baby is kissed with a person that has herpes, it is possible for it to contract it the disease. Kissing a helpless baby while having a cold sore is highly unadvised.
Though there is no direct relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the herpes simplex virus, investigators have noted that a person that has herpes is more likely to be infected by HIV due to he lesions and skin breaks facilitate the entering of HIV into the body. In addition, women having herpes infection are more prone to getting cervical cancer than other women.
Nowadays, there is a vaccine that is being studied and many scientists hope that it might be possible to become effective within the next five years. In addition to this, though we have no cure for herpes, some drugs have been designed to reduce the number of outbreaks within a certain period of time.