Herpes: An Insidious Disease of Modern Times
Herpes is considered one of the most insidious and pervasive viral diseases to affect the world population today. Conservative studies suggest that as many as 39% of men and nearly 1/2 of all women are expected to contract herpes in the U.S. alone by the year 2025 (Wetstein, 2002). Already nearly 1 in 5 people will have some form of herpes by the time they reach adolescence or early adulthood (Herpes, 2004).
In light of such dire statistics and information, it is important to examine the disease and its implications for the future. Researchers and scientists are working diligently to uncover new avenues for treatment of this incurable disease, and studies are underway for uncovering potential and promising vaccines to halt the spread of this increasingly common problem affecting millions.
There are many different forms of therapy that have been introduced in recent years to treat herpes. Among the more commonly used are episodic and suppressive therapies, meant to help patients with herpes lead as normal a life as possible with as few recurrences as possible. Patients who are diagnosed with herpes once faced huge stigma and esteem issues because of the nature of the illness. Though many people diagnosed with herpes still face anxiety and self-esteem issues, herpes is becoming more widely understood and accepted, in part due to the large numbers of people in the population suffering from the disease.
The report below will begin with a general overview of herpes, followed by a listing of the types of herpes, treatment options and lifestyle coping options available to patients diagnosed with the disease.
General Overview
Herpes is a virus called herpes simplex virus or HSV for short (ASHA, 2001). The virus is a member of a family of viruses that include several different categories, namely: Epstein-Barr, Varicella Zoster, HSV-1 and HSV-2 (ASHA, 2001). The two primary types of herpes simplex are HSV-1 which usually affects the oral area and HSV-2 which typically affects the genitals (ASHA, 2001). Herpes is one of the most easily contracted viral illnesses known to man, perhaps as common as the cold. Most people are exposed to herpes at some point during their life, often when they are children. It is not uncommon for parents to spread the virus to their children through kissing, shared use of utensils or day-to-day contact.
HSV-1 or oral herpes is very common; in fact studies suggests that as many as 80% of adult people have oral herpes (ASHA, 2001). The virus is primarily spread through person to person contact, and most people acquire it when children. 90% of people that carry the virus are unaware that they have it (ASHA, 2001).
Symptoms of all forms of herpes may appear within a few days or weeks, months and even years after exposure to the virus; some people have a severe first initial outbreak whereas others generally have mild symptoms that are easily mistaken for mild skin irritation, thus the disease may go unnoticed (ASHA, 2001). This varies largely from person to person. Some people will be exposed to the herpes virus but never experience any active symptoms. Part of this is relative to a persons overall lifestyle, immune system responses and health and well being.
HSV-1
HSV-1 or oral herpes is one of the most common forms of herpes simplex, affecting up to 80% of the population (Mayo, 2004). HSV-1 is commonly referred to as oral herpes, fever blisters or cold sores. They are highly contagious. It is also one of the most dreaded forms of herpes, because the symptoms affect a persons face, which is highly visible to the public.
Signs and symptoms of HSV-1 include small, fluid filled red and painful blisters on an area of the skin, usually on the lips, mouth, chin and nasal region (Mayo, 2004). Pain or tingling often accompanies formation of the prodrome, which is the stage of viral outbreak that immediately precedes the outburst of blisters (Mayo, 2004). Patients can generally tell when an outbreak is about to happen based on the tingling sensation experienced around the affected region. Outbreaks usually occur in the same location time and time again, though it is possible for the virus to spread to other areas of the body through personal contact.
Generally an outbreak of HSV-1 lasts anywhere from seven to 10 days, though there are anti-viral medications available that may now limit the duration of active symptoms and speed recovery rate (Mayo, 2004). Symptoms may not actually surface for as much as 20 days after exposure to the virus (Mayo, 2004).
HSV-1 usually causes cold sores, though it is possible that HSV-2 may be responsible for cold sores (Mayo, 2004). The virus is usually spread from person to person via shared utensils, food, towels and other common items (Mayo, 2004).
Prevention involves avoiding skin to skin contact with an individual while they are having an active outbreak of the disease, or when moist secretions are emanating from blisters (Mayo, 2004). Hand washing may also help spread the virus.
There are certain things that may trigger an active outbreak, which include high levels of stress and over exposure to bright sunlight (Mayo, 2004).
HSV-2
Among the more common types of herpes is genital herpes. Genital herpes is caused by HSV type 2, which usually causes sores on the genitals (NIH, 2003). HSV1 can result in sores in or around the vaginal area, on the penis and around the anus and buttocks (NIH, 2003). Transmission usually results from sexual contact. HSV-2 may also affect the oral surfaces of the body, just as HSV-1 may sometimes affect the genital regions, thus it is important that a person with an active outbreak take extreme care not to spread the disease when experiencing active outbreaks.
There is no cure for HSV-2 just as there is no cure for other forms of herpes; it usually resides in the nerve cells of a hosts body for their entire life, and may produce symptoms at any time, though symptoms generally subside over time (NIH, 2003).
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that as many as 45 million people in the United States are infected with HSV-2, which translates into 1 in 5 people (NIH, 2003). HSV-2 is rapidly becoming as common as other forms of the herpes virus.
Transmission is most common when an individual is having an active outbreak, meaning the HSV-2 virus is active, and lesions or sores are openly visible (NIH, 2003). When lesions are visible they shed viruses which can infect another person via skin to skin contact (NIH, 2003). The most common symptoms include itching, burning, pain, sores or lesion, discharge and even a feeling or pressure in the abdomen (NIH, 2003).
Generally the first outbreak is the most severe, and subsequent outbreaks are more and more mild (NIH, 2003). Some people do not experience recurrences, though the virus still remains alive in their nerve cells over the years.
Shingles – Varicella Zoster
Shingles is another form of the herpes virus, usually resulting from a previous infection with the chicken pox (NIH, June, 2003). It is estimated that more than 2 of every 10 people will develop shingles in their lifetime, and more than 500,000 people per year come down with the virus (NIH, June, 2003). It is caused by the same virus that results inc chicken pox (NIA, 2004).
The virus is more common in people over the age of 50 and those with weakened immune systems (NIH, June, 2003). Symptoms generally include rash or blisters on the skin that may be painful (NIH, June, 2003). Other common symptoms include burning, tingling, numbness of skin, chills, fever, headache, sensitive skin and fatigue (NIA, 2004). Generally the disease follows a pattern, where first a burning or tingling sensation is experienced, followed by a red rash that covers the body, face or neck, which then turns into fluid filled blisters (NIA, 2004). These blisters eventually dry up and crust over during a period of a few days, though the rash may last for up to 5 weeks (NIA, 2004).
Anyone who has been exposed to the varicella virus at some point in their life is at risk for contracting an active outbreak of shingles later in life, though generally the disease lies dormant until later in life when the immune system is compromised (NIA, 2004).
It is usually treated with anti-viral medications and pain medications (NIA, 2004). Most people with an outbreak of shingles can minimize their chances of recurrence by seeking prompt medical attention. It is recommended that a patient visit a physician within three days of an active outbreak, in order to assess treatment options and minimize the severity of the outbreak.
Epstein Barr
Epstein-Barr virus or EBV is also a member of the herpes family of viruses and is also very common, affecting as many as 95% of adults at one time or another during their lives (CDC, 2002). Children are commonly infected with the virus though they may not demonstrate any symptoms other than a brief illness that includes a fever and sore throat (CDC, 2002).
The primary symptoms of EBV include fever, sore throat and swollen lymph glands, and in more severe cases a swollen spleen or liver (CDC, 2002). Generally the symptoms of infectious mono last for between 1 or 2 months, though the disease like other forms of herpes lies dormant in a person for several years, and may reactivate from time to time, though usually without symptoms of illness (CDC, 2002).
Transmission of the disease generally occurs through saliva to saliva contact (CDC, 2002). Once a person has been exposed symptoms may not appear for up to six weeks, but the person has the ability to spread the disease during this entire time (CDC, 2002).
There are no specific treatments for EBV except to treat the symptoms, though anti-virals have been made available, and some steroids may reportedly decrease the length and severity of the illness (CDC, 2002).
Primary Treatment
The treatment protocol for most forms of Herpes is the same. Presently there is no cure for herpes, though some drugs including antivirals are being used to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks (Herpes, 2004). One of the more common drugs is Isoprinosine which has the ability to stimulate the bodies immune response and act as an anti-viral agent, though it is still under investigation in the U.S. (Herpes, 2004).
There are currently many investigations going on that are focusing on discovering a vaccine for herpes, and studies suggest that a vaccine may be developed within the next 3-5 years (Herpes, 2004). A vaccine has been developed to help prevent chicken pox in children (Herpes, 2004). A vaccine will only affect immunity in those who have not been exposed to the virus however, it will not help the thousands of people that have already been exposed to the virus (Herpes, 2004).
Anti-Virals
As anti-viral medications are the more commonly prescribed drug to help treat herpes, they deserve further exploration.
The three most common anti-viral medications prescribed for treatment of herpes are acyclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir. Acyclovir is considered the first effective agent against the herpes disease, but it isn’t necessarily considered the most convenient, primarily because its actions are very short lasting (IHMF, 2004). It can be taken to treat episodes or acute outbreaks of herpes to reduce the severity or to shorten the duration (IHMF, 2004).
Acyclovir is also sometimes used as a suppressive agent to reduce the frequency of outbreaks in patients that have several outbreaks per year (IHMF, 2004). Clinical trials have in fact shown that it may reduce the number of recurrences from 11 to less than 2 per year (IHMF, 2004).
Valaciclovir like Acyclovir is used to treat acute outbreaks of the virus (IHMF, 2004). It helps reduce the severity of sores and helps lesions heal faster, generally cutting down the time in which an active lesion and the virus can be detected on the skin of patients (IHMF, 2004). For some patients, if they take this drug when they first notice tingling and burning sensations they may be able to completely prevent the development of tell tale blisters associated with herpes (IHMF, 2004). Clinical trials suggests that valaciclovir successful prevented development of blisters in 1/3 of patients who took the drug within 24 hours of first noticing symptoms (IHMF, 2004).
Valaciclovir may also be used as a suppressive agent. Famciclovir is also used to reduce the time that a patient is suffering from an outbreak, and also works to decrease the severity of pain that is associated with an outbreak (IHMF, 2004). It is more often used as a form of suppressive therapy.
Research on Famciclovir suggests that it can reduce the frequency of outbreaks by as much as 72%, and 2 to 3 more patients were shown to be outbreak free when they took famciclovir over a placebo in clinical trials of the drugs efficacy (IHMF, 2004).
Generally the side effects associated with anti-viral use are considered minimal and may include symptoms such as a headache or nausea (IHMF, 2004). For most people these relatively minor side effects are much more welcome that an active outbreak of herpes.
When anti-viral medications are taken for acute outbreaks (as episodic therapy) it is generally recommended that they are taken up to five times per day for up to one week (IHMF, 2004). Generally suppressive therapy requires that a patient take a tablet only once per day, sometimes twice if a patient is experiencing active outbreaks (IHMF, 2004). Again, most patients are willing to put up with the prospect of taking a pill daily indefinitely if it will result in an almost permanent reduction of symptoms and outbreaks.
There is some evidence to suggest that supplementation with the amino acid Lysine may help control herpes when combined with a diet that is high in lysine and low in the amino acid arginine (Herpes, 2004; Griffith, 1987). Foods that are high in lysine include the following: chicken, lamb, beef, fish, beans, vegetables and cheese (Herpes, 2004).
Lysine is though to work because it consists of certain proteins that are capable of enveloping the herpes virus and thus suppress it (Herpes, 2004).
Stress management may also be an effective technique for lessening the impact of Herpes. Stress has been identified as one of the triggers that may cause recurrent outbreaks of herpes in patients (Wood, 1986). Thus one might consider stress management techniques as an additional treatment option for managing both HSV-1 and HSV-2 outbreaks. Along with this is the idea that a healthy diet and lifestyle that incorporates exercise, all of which help boost the immune system, may contribute to a decreased incidence of herpes outbreaks in patients carrying the disease (Wood, 1986).
Living With Herpes
Despite the fact that so many people in the population suffer from herpes, it is one of those diseases that carries with it a stigma. Most people who have lesions do everything possible to hide them, and often suffer from depression or self-esteem issues when an outbreak occurs.
It is important that patients diagnosed with herpes learn as much as possible about the condition so they can prevent future spread of the disease through sexual contact and manage their illness to the best of their ability.
With knowledge of the disease comes the opportunity to engage in preventive behaviors. As this paper has shown, a number of lifestyle changes including eating a healthy diet, managing stress and possibly supplementing with certain amino acids or anti-virals may help reduce the severity of future outbreaks among the population at large.
Herpes is often associated with other conditions including anxiety and depression, which usually result when a person does not have an adequate support foundation or network of people that can help them understand and cope with the illness (Herpes, 2004). Because there is no cure for Herpes, and most people who contract herpes are generally young, diagnosis of the disease for some may be devastating.
This is particularly the case for young adults that have been diagnosed with genital herpes. The best method of prevention for diseases like genital herpes is education. Unfortunately for many education comes long after first exposure. For others who are infected in childhood, there is little recourse other than disease management and lifestyle changes in the future geared toward healthy living and coping.
Fortunately there are numerous support networks available for patients with Herpes. Many of these are online, so that patients can seek anonymous help and support regarding their disease.
Among physicians there is less and less stigma associated with a diagnosis of herpes, and prescriptions for anti-viral medications are more commonly dispersed as more and more patients come down with the disease.
The best someone can do that has herpes is learn to cope with their disease and manage symptoms to the best of their ability to prevent future recurrences. Education is also important so patients can learn not recognize the early symptoms of an outbreak such as burning, numbness and tingling (Herpes, 2004). Advanced treatment with anti-virals when these symptoms are noticed may result in a lessening of symptoms and the duration of the illness, which will improve a persons overall sense of health and well being.
For patients that are having an extremely difficult time coping with herpes and dealing with associated psychological dysfunctions such as severe depression or anxiety, treatment using suppressive therapy is often recommended. Suppressive therapy works to limit the frequency of future outbreaks, and is generally successful for minimizing outbreaks by as much as 70% in patients with frequent recurrences (IHMF, 2004).
Conclusion
Herpes is one of the most common viral infections plaguing mankind today. Studies suggest that one in five people will have some form of herpes by the time they become an adult. Most people contract herpes when they are young, particularly when they are children. Though there is currently no cure for herpes, there is much hope for a vaccine and newer, more effective treatment options for patients in the future.
The preliminary outbreak of herpes virus is often the worst. Symptoms may include a fever, sore throat, fatigue, pain, tingling and eventually outbreak of one or more blisters in the affected area. There are two primary forms of herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 generally causes an outbreak on the oral surfaces of the body and HSV-2 generally results in genital herpes, though it is possible for HSV-1 to be found on the genitals and vice versa.
Most forms of herpes are spread through person to person contact with body fluids. The virus may be transmitted when it is undergoing an active phase, when blisters, pain, tingling or numbness are available. When a person has these symptoms it is best that they avoid contact with others to prevent further spreading of the disease.
Herpes can take on many different forms including shingles or Epstein Barr virus. Most people who are exposed to one form of herpes have an increased chance of contracting another form during the course of their lifetime.
There is no cure for herpes at this time. There are a number of anti-viral therapies now available that may help suppress an active outbreak, or decrease the severity and length of symptoms. There are some dietary supplements such as lysine that have been shown to help lessen the severity of symptoms as well. The number one way to prevent infection is through educational programs targeted toward knowledge and understanding of the disease.
There are a number of promising vaccines that are currently being investigated for treatment of herpes virus. Though there is no cure at this time for the virus, people who have been diagnosed with herpes can lead a normal and active lifestyle. There are numerous support groups and patient resource centers available for people diagnosed with herpes.
References
ASHA. “National Herpes Resource Center.” (2001). American Social Health
Association. 27, October 2004, http://www.ashastd.org/hrc/index.html
CDC. “Epstein Barr Virus.” (October 26, 2002). National Center for Infectious Diseases.
28, October 2004, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm
Griffith, R.S. “Success of L-Lysine Therapy in Frequently Recurrent Herpes simplex
Infection,” Dermatologica 175: 183-190 (1987)
Herpes.com. “Treatment.” (2004). Herpes.com. 28, October, 2004, http://www.herpes.com/Treatment.shtml
IHMF. “Treatment Options for Herpes.” IHMF. 27, October 2004, http://www.ihmf.org/general/resources05.asp
Mayo Foundation. “Cold Sores.” April 28, 2004. Mayo Foundation for Medical
Education. 30, October, 2004, http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00358
NIA. “Shingles – Age Page.” June, 2004. National Institute on Aging. 30, October, 2004. http://www.niapublications.org/engagepages.shingles.asp
NIH. “Genital Herpes, Fact Sheet.” National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. 21, November 2003. 30, October, 2004, http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdherp.htm
NIH. “Shingles, Fact Sheet.” National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, June 26, 2003. 27, October, 2004: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/shinglesFS.htm
Wetzstein, Cheryl. “Herpes Vaccine Has Promise for Stemming Diseases Spread.” The Washington Times, December 4, 2002.
Wood, Clive. “Herpes: Think Positive.” Psychology Today, Vol. 20, 24. (1986).
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
