How to Spot Herpes Symptoms and Seek Proper Treatment

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) does cause oral herpes, genital herpes,and also infections in other areas of one’s body. Fluid-filled blisters on one’s skin are common symptoms, but many people have no herpes symptoms at all. A simple blood test can tell you if having HSV in one’s body.

Antiviral medications can of course treat single outbreaks or even help the affected person to manage HSV  on a long-term basis.

Know more about herpes simplex virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can rather infect several different parts of one’s body, most often one’s mouth area (oral herpes) and also genitals (genital herpes). HSV does cause fluid-filled blisters that break open and also crust over wherever the infection is there. This is referred to as a herpes outbreak. But it is also possible to have no symptoms and not realize that the person is really infected.

HSV is no doubt highly contagious. It does spread from person to person via skin-to-skin contact. A herpes simplex infection does occur when the virus enters one’s body via the skin and mucous membranes (mucosa). The virus does use one’s cells to make copies of itself (replication).

Once the person is infected, the virus stays in one’s body for life. It is usually asleep (dormant) but can “wake up” (reactivate) and thus cause outbreaks. How HSV affects a person depends on several factors, including the specific virus type and one’s overall health.

Treatment of herpes symptoms

There is indeed no cure for HSV. Yet, treatments can help make outbreaks more manageable while also lowering the chances that the person will experience the spreading of the virus to others.

Prescription antiviral medications happen to be the main form of treatment for HSV infections. These come in different forms that include:

• Pills swallowed.
• Cream or ointment is applied to the skin.
• Medication that the provider gives intravenously (via IV).
• Drops are put into one’s eyes (for ocular herpes).

Types of herpes simplex virus

There are indeed two types of herpes simplex virus:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

Both HSV-1 and also HSV-2 can rather cause oral herpes or genital herpes. They also in fact cause infections in other parts of one’s body.

What parts of the body do herpes symptoms affect?

Herpes simplex virus can rather cause infections in an individual’s

mouth and face. An oral herpes infection does cause cold sores on the person’s lips and also around the mouth. Few people develop herpetic gingivostomatitis (sores inside their respective mouths and other symptoms) when they first get infected. Rarely, sores develop on or inside the nose (nasal herpes).

Genitals- A genital herpes infection does lead to sores in a person’s genital area, including the parts that can be seen (like the vulva or penis) and those not to be seen, (like one’s cervix).

Skin on other areas of one’s body- HSV can infect the fingers (herpetic whitlow) or even skin anywhere on the body (herpes gladiatorum). Eczema herpeticum, a widespread skin infection, happens to be a complication of HSV infection that affects people with atopic dermatitis.

Eyes- HSV can indeed cause a serious eye infection known as herpes keratitis (a type of ocular herpes).

Brain and spinal cord- HSV can rather infect one’s brain (herpes simplex encephalitis) or the protective layers that surround the brain and spinal cord (herpes meningitis). If HSV  does infect both one’s brain and its protective layers, then the person can develop a life-threatening condition known as herpes meningoencephalitis.

Other organs- HSV can affect one or even more organs in one’s chest as well as belly, including one’s esophagus (herpes esophagitis), lungs (HSV pneumonia) , and also liver (HSV hepatitis). These types of infections tend to more likely affect people who are immunocompromised.

Conclusion

Herpes symptoms should be identified to avoid complications and access proper treatment as it spreads.