Herpes

Welcome to the Affordable Drugs herpes information page. You can find information here about herpes simplex virus, herpes infection, herpes symptoms and herpes treatments. You can also find the best available prices on herpes medications. The information contained on this page is not intended to replace the professional advice of your physician.

What is Herpes?

Herpes is a virus that causes various infections in humans and animals. Eight herpes viruses have been identified so far that cause infections in humans. Herpes is the third most common virus after the flu and cold viruses. After a herpes infection occurs, it can cause immediate symptoms, recurrent symptoms, or hide within the body for a long time to produce symptoms at a later date. Sometimes herpes infections cause no symptoms whatsoever. For this reason, many herpes infections go unrecognized and undiagnosed.

Eight Types of Herpes Virus

(1) Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 1 (HSV-1) is one of the most common herpes viruses infecting more than 60% of Americans. HSV-1 causes cold sores and fever blisters in the mouth or on the lips and face.

(2) Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 2 (HSV-2) is a less common herpes virus. Also known as genital herpes, it causes painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area. HSV-2 infects roughly 20% of Americans.

(3) Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), also known as Infectious Mononucleosis, is the most common herpes virus. As many as 95% of adults have been or will be infected by age 40. EBV produces sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph glands. On very rare occasions, EBV virus can later produce burkett's lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

(4) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infects from 50% to 80% of US adults by age 40 and is the most common virus to be transmitted by a pregnant woman to her child. Children born with CMV can develop permanent or congenital disabilities as a result of the virus.

(5) Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) causes childhood chickenpox. In approximately 10%-20% of cases, VZV becomes active in adulthood, producing herpes zoster or shingles.

(6) Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) most commonly occurs in newborns and can cause fever-induced seizures in children under 2. Although rare in healthy adults HHV-6 can, under certain circumstances, infect adults with a mononucleosis-like syndrome, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, or encephalitis. In adults with HIV or AIDS, HHV-6 can hasten the progression of HIV.

(7) Human Herpes Virus 7 (HHV-7) is similar to HHV-6 and related to CMV. HHV-7 is the least pathogenic of herpes viruses. It produces roseola, a skin rash on the neck and back and a mild respiratory infection in newborns and children under 5. HHV-7 is thought to occur in up to 95% of the US population. It usually does not recur except after a transplant.

(8) Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) causes Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpes Virus, a non-fatal but sometimes disfiguring and disabling cancer that produces purplish skin discolorations. It's related to varicella, epstein barr and herpes 1 & 2. HHV-8 generally develops in those with HIV or AIDS.

Each herpes virus is a separate entity and different from the others. If you have one herpes virus, it doesn't mean you have any of the others. Although HSV-1 causes primarily herpes in the mouth or on the face, it can also produce the same symptoms in the genital area. HSV-2 primarily infects the genitals, but it can also occur in the mouth or on the face. Outbreaks of HSV-1 and HSV-2 tend to reduce and lessen in severity over time.

Oral Herpes

What are Oral Herpes?
Oral herpes are a type of virus that causes infections in human orifices. As with many similar viral infections, herpes simplex viruses may produce periodical life-long infections. These infections enter and then hide in the human nervous system which accounts for their heavy durability in the human body. Herpes simplex type one, also known as HSV-1 is the most common form of herpes simplex and often results in outbreaks on the face known as cold sores or fever blisters.

An infection caused by the herpes simplex virus is normally marked with watery-like liquid filled blisters on the skin or a mucous membrane on the mouth or lips. These lesions usually heal with a scab characteristic normal to these types of sores. Herpes simplex type one, or oral herpes, is persistent throughout normal human life and can result in several periodical outbreaks per year for the rest of one's life.

After the primary or initial infection, oral herpes become latent in the bodies of the cells and nerves around the affected area. Some people that are infected with oral herpes can experience sporadic episodes of viral reactivation which presents an additional case that is as bad as the initial case of oral herpes. This is often followed by the transportation of the virus onto the skin which is where viral replication and shedding occurs and then proceeds to carry the virus to additional areas of the body, usually confined to the mouth or genital regions in both men and women.

Herpes simples presented in Oral Herpes, such as cold sores, are usually very common and can easily be spread if mouth-on-mouth contact is preformed with another, unaffected individual. However, the virus can only be passed if it comes in contact with a break in the skin. Without a cut or old sore in the mouth, the virus does not affect the mouth.

Cold sores appear as small, white sores in the mouth that sting when coming in contact with certain items. Cold sores are often mistaken as canker sores which are actually ulcers, not viral infections. Although, both ailments present the same symptoms, oral herpes is a lifelong ailment and oral ulcers are a sporadic and temporary ailment.

Though there is no cure to mouth herpes, there are some antiviral medications that can help reduce the duration of the outbreaks, the frequency, and the severity. These antiviral medications also reduce the asymptomatic shedding of cells inherent in mouth herpes. It is widely believed that regular application of some forms of antiviral medications can lead to outbreaks only occurring once to twice per year, and those outbreaks only lasting several days. Some other medications also include over the counter analgesics which can reduce the fever and pain during initial outbreaks and reciprocal outbreaks. Some topical treatments such as lidocaine, tetracane, and prilocaine can also relive the itching and pain of mouth herpes.

Though Mouth Herpes is a lifelong ailment, there are many things that one can do to relieve the uncomfortable repercussions of outbreaks.

Herpes Treatments (Cold Sore Treatments)

If you contract the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), you may be vulnerable to oral herpes, otherwise known as cold sores. Cold sores are the most prevalent type of infection related to the Herpes Simplex Virus, and there have been many advancements in cold sore treatments to alleviate symptoms over the years. The Herpes Simplex Virus is incurable, however, there are herpes treatments available to help ease pain and symptoms.

There are two types of cold sores caused by the virus; symptomatic and asymptomatic. Symptomatic cold sores affect the face, lips, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, and the inside of the cheeks, and are open, red lesions that can often be painful. However, these lesions usually dry up and heal within 10 days of an outbreak without medical intervention--such as topical or oral medicines used for herpes treatments or cold sore treatments.

When living with oral herpes, the virus becomes latent (dormant) or recurrent (active). The virus attaches itself to a mass of tissue in the spine called the dorsal root ganglion, making the virus incurable, however, herpes treatments are available when outbreaks occur and to help prevent recurrent cold sores. When the virus is latent, all symptoms go into an inactive state until a stressor activates the virus. If you have recurrent cold sores, you will encounter new symptoms and lesions until the stressor causing the outbreaks is alleviated or cold sore treatments are sought.

There are two categories of treatments to prevent or shorten outbreaks. The first type of oral herpes treatment is a non-specific treatment--this helps reduce the symptoms caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. Keeping all lesions as dry and clean as possible help to shorten outbreaks and prevent spreading the virus to other surrounding sensitive areas. Adjusting your daily diet--eating mild or bland foods--helps prevent any irritation of sensitive areas. In addition, applying ice to blisters for 5 minute increments on an hourly basis is also recommended to help reduce the swelling or irritation that may occur from a ruptured blister. Once the blister ruptures, apply any type of over-the-counter astringents that contain the ingredients Camphor or Phenol, which will help alleviate any discomfort experienced after the blister ruptures. Once the lesion scabs over, apply creams or ointments regularly that contain Campho-Phenique or Orabase, which help prevent painful cracking of scabs.

The second treatment is a specific anti-viral therapy, which speeds up the healing process of current oral lesions or helps prevent occurrences altogether. Commonly used pill medications for this type of treatment include: Acyclovir (Zovirax), Valacyclovir (Valtrex), or Famciclovir (Famvir). These medications all act to reduce the frequency of oral herpes outbreaks, as well as symptoms associated with the cold sores. When taken properly, these medications are effective to reduce or prevent the multiplication of the HSV--preventing breakouts. Additionally, there are also topical anti-viral creams, such as Penciclovir (Denavir) or Acyclovir (Zovirax). These medications limit the severity and length of the outbreaks of oral herpes when immediately applied to the infected areas of skin.