Long held beliefs that genital herpes and herpes type 2 were synonymous disappeared with the dawn of the sexual revolution. Although the clinical manifestations of infection with the type 1 and type 2 virus appear indistinguishable, the public imagines cold sores always signify type 1 infection with genital herpes as the type 2 virus. Now almost 50% of genital infections result from the type 1 virus transmitted either through vaginal or anal sex or orogenital contact.
An estimated 1 in 8 individuals between age 14-49 carry the herpes virus within the nerves supplying the genital organs with up to 50% harboring the cold sore or fever blister type in the nerves leading to the facial tissues.
People carrying the virus routinely shed active, infectious particles on the skin usually localized to areas where the virus originally entered the body. Most infections occur during this asymptomatic phase in the absence of an active sore on the surface of the skin. The virus may remain dormant for a lifetime or spontaneously recur at various sporadic and unpredictable intervals.
Interestingly as many as 90% of individuals infected with the virus remain totally unaware of their status. This potentially leads to misunderstanding, blame, recriminations, interpersonal strife and at times even separation or divorce when a clinically active lesion appears.
Imagine the situation where 2 individuals are involved in a long term monogamous relationship without either aware of their status with regard to the herpes virus. Now after several years one of the partners develops an initial lesion diagnosed as genital herpes. Of course accusations of infidelity rage between the partners.
Reality indicates a more nuanced situation. The individual with the genital herpes may be manifesting the initially recognized clinical lesion of a virus long dormant in the nerves - perhaps hidden for years to decades. The long term partner may be not only totally blameless and innocent but either uninfected or may have actually contracted the virus from the partner with the active infection.
An alternative equally likely explanation further complicates matters and suggests the uninvolved individual may have unknowingly carried the virus after an initial infection years previously and indeed unknowingly infected the partner. But yet another possibility exists. Both partners could be infected from previous relationships that occurred years to decades previously. Generally only one infection occurs with each type of herpes. All subsequent outbreaks represent reactivation of the individual’s own virus rather than a new virus.
With this in mind, let the hostility and anxiety over this simple virus end. And for those with frequent recurrences, anti-viral therapy with acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir helps stave off future attacks.
Негізгі бет Genital Herpes
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