Treatments for Genital herpes
Treatments for Genital herpes:
Genital herpes is not curable, but it is treatable. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to successful treatment is the shame, embarrassment, and/or stigma people with genital herpes might feel. Overcoming preconceived notions of sexually transmitted diseases is often the biggest step many people with genital herpes can take. It is often reassuring to know that genital herpes is a common condition. At least 45 million people ages 12 and over have had genital herpes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because genital herpes is passed to other people through sexual contact, it is important to refrain from sexual contact until you have been medically evaluated, treated, and cleared to do so and instructed in safer sexual practices for people with genital herpes.
For the best outcome for your case of genital herpes, your health care provider will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that best fits your condition and your life style. The plan will also take into consideration your complete medical and family history.
The overall treatment goal for people living with genital herpes is to minimize episodes of symptoms and treat the discomfort of symptoms and to prevent transmission of the disease to other people and other areas of the body. The most effective treatment plans often include a multifaceted approach and can include medications and safer sex practices.
Oral medications commonly used to treat genital herpes include antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex). These medications quickly decrease the length and severity of an episode of symptoms by preventing the virus from multiplying. They can also decrease the frequency and severity of recurrent episodes of symptoms. Antiviral medications are most effective during first episodes of genital herpes symptoms. In general recurrent episodes tend to be less severe. The sooner treatment with medications is started, the more effective they will be. For recurrent symptoms, it is recommended that medications are started as soon as symptoms such as genital/anal iching, tingling, burning begin or when blisters are first noted. There are currently no topical medications that are effective in reducing the symptoms or decreasing the length of an episode of genital herpes. It is important that you tell all your sexual partners and health care providers, including the dentist, that you have genital herpes and that you are taking antiviral medications.
It is also important to keep the genital area as clean and dry as possible with warm showers followed by a gentle pat dry. This will aid in the healing process and help prevent secondary infections of bacteria. Promoting healing of genital herpes sores and minimizing recurrent episodes of symptoms requires a healthy immune system. Maintaining proper nutrition, rest, and exercise are key to this.
Genital herpes can also be spread even when there are no symptoms. To prevent the transmission of genital herpes to others, it is important to use condoms during sexual activity at all times, even when there are no visible sores or blisters. Ideally, couple should not engage in any type of sexual activity, even kissing, during an episode of symptoms. It is possible to spread genital herpes to other parts of the body during an episode of symptoms. The eyes and mouth are particularly susceptible to transfer of the virus, which can result in serious and painful infections in those areas. To prevent the spread of herpes to other parts of the body, it is important not to wash hands thoroughly after touching genital herpes blister or sores. In addition, do not share clothing or washcloths and towels with others. In addition, delivering a baby vaginally with active genital herpes symptoms, such as blisters or sores, can transmit the virus to the baby and result in serious complications, such as mental retardation, or even death. Although this is rare, it is very important to practice safer sex during pregnancy and tell your obstetrician or midwife of any history of genital herpes infection or history of infection in sexual partners, even if there have been no symptoms for a long time.
Treatments for Genital herpes
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Genital herpes
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
- Acyclovir (Zovirax®) - an antiviral drug
- Famciclovir (Famvir®)
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex®)
- Keep area clean and dry
- Avoid touching sores
- Avoid sexual activity - this can infect others.
- Wash hands
- Warm baths - to relieve symptoms
- Caesarian delivery - to prevent the baby catching from herpes if mother is having an outbreak at the time.
- Sexual abstinence during attacks
- Condoms - to prevent sexual transmission
Genital herpes: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Genital herpes may include:
Hidden causes of Genital herpes may be incorrectly diagnosed:
- HSV type 1 - though less common than HSV type 2, the HSV-1 virus from cold sores can also cause genital herpes.
- more causes...»
Genital herpes: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Genital herpes:
Curable Types of Genital herpes
Possibly curable types of Genital herpes may include:
Drugs and Medications used to treat Genital herpes:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Genital herpes include:
Latest treatments for Genital herpes:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Genital herpes:
Hospital statistics for Genital herpes:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Genital herpes:
- 0.0022% (284) of hospital consultant episodes were for anogenital herpesviral infection in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 93% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 8% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 92% of hospital consultant episodes for anogenital herpesviral infection were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Genital herpes
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Genital herpes:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Genital herpes,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Genital herpes:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Genital herpes:
Discussion of treatments for Genital herpes:
Genital Herpes: DSTD (Excerpt)
There is no treatment
that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent
outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the
medication. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)
Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)
Although there is no cure for genital
herpes, your doctor might prescribe one of three medicines to treat
it:
- Acyclovir (Zovirax®) treats the first and/or later episodes of
genital herpes.
- Famciclovir (Famvir®) treats later episodes of genital herpes
and helps prevent future outbreaks.
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex®) treats later episodes of genital
herpes.
During an active herpes episode, whether the first
episode or a repeat one, you should follow a few simple steps to
speed healing and avoid spreading the infection to other places on
the body or to other people:
- Keep the infected area clean and dry to prevent other
infections from developing.
- Try to avoid touching the sores.
- Wash your hands after contact with the sores.
- Avoid sexual contact from the time you first feel any symptoms
until the sores are completely healed, that is, the scab has
fallen off and new skin has formed where the sore was.
(Source: excerpt from
Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)
Severe or frequently recurrent genital
herpes is treated with one of several antiviral drugs that are
available by prescription. These drugs help control the symptoms but
do not eliminate the herpes virus from the body. Suppressive
antiviral therapy can be used to prevent occurrences and perhaps
transmission. Women who acquire genital herpes during pregnancy can
transmit the virus to their babies. Untreated HSV infection in
newborns can result in mental retardation and death. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Genital Herpes: NWHIC (Excerpt)
During an active herpes episode, whether primary or recurrent, it is
important to follow a few simple steps to speed healing and to avoid
spreading the infection to other sites of the body or to other people:
keep the infected area clean and dry, try to avoid touching the sores,
wash hands after contact, and avoid sexual contact from the time the
symptoms are first recognized until the sores have healed.
In 1982, the first antiviral drug for genital herpes, acyclovir, was
approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a topical ointment
in persons suffering from an initial episode of infection. Over the next
few years, investigators at the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and elsewhere subsequently proved that an oral
form of acyclovir is a superior treatment capable of benefiting persons
with first or recurrent episodes of genital herpes. The oral form of the
drug markedly shortens the course of a first episode and limits the
severity of recurrences if taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.
People who have very frequent recurrent episodes of the disease can also
take oral acyclovir daily for up to 1 year to suppress the virus’ activity
and prevent most recurrences. Acyclovir is not a cure for herpes -- the
virus remains in the body, but while taken regularly, the drug interferes
with the virus’ ability to reproduce itself.
(Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: NWHIC)
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Herpes simplex:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
No cure for herpes exists; however, recurrences tend to be milder and of shorter duration than the primary infection. Symptomatic and supportive therapy is essential. Generalized primary infection usually requires an analgesic-antipyretic to reduce fever and relieve pain. Anesthetic mouthwashes, such as viscous lidocaine, may reduce the pain of gingivostomatitis, enabling the patient to eat and preventing dehydration. (Avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes.) Drying agents, such as calamine lotion, ease the pain of labial or skin lesions. Avoid petroleum-based ointments, which promote viral spread and slow healing.
Refer patients with eye infections to an ophthalmologist. Topical corticosteroids are contraindicated in active infection, but idoxuridine, trifluridine, and vidarabine are effective.
Oral acyclovir may bring relief to patients with genital herpes. Frequent prophylactic use of acyclovir in immunosuppressed transplant patients prevents disseminated disease.Foscarnet can be used to treat HVH that’s resistant to acyclovir. Anti-viral agents similar to acyclovir are valacyclovir and famciclovir. These agents are more active than acyclovir.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Genital herpes:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Acyclovir has proved to be an effective treatment for genital herpes. I.V. administration may be required for patients who are hospitalized with severe genital herpes or for those who are immunocompromised and have a potentially life-threatening herpes infection. Oral acyclovir may be prescribed for the patient with a first-time infection or recurrent outbreak. Other agents include famciclovir, valacyclovir, and penciclovir; these drugs suppress symptoms but don’t cure the infection. Daily prophylaxis with acyclovir reduces the frequency of recurrences by at least 50%, but this is only appropriate for a patient with frequent outbreaks and may not decrease transmission rate of the disease.
Foscavir, a powerful antiviral agent, is the treatment of choice for herpes strains that are severe in nature or have become resistant to acyclovir and similar drugs. Administered I.V., foscavir can have several toxic effects, such as reversible impairment of kidney function or induction of sei-zures. As with other antiviral drugs, this drug doesn’t cure herpes.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Herpes simplex:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Symptomatic and supportive therapy is essential. Generalized primary infection usually requires an analgesic-antipyretic to reduce fever and relieve pain. Anesthetic mouthwashes, such as viscous lidocaine, may reduce the pain of gingivostomatitis, enabling the patient to eat and preventing dehydration. Drying agents, such as calamine lotion, make labial lesions less painful.
Refer patients with eye infections to an ophthalmologist. Topical cortico-steroids are contraindicated in active infection, but idoxuridine, trifluridine, and vidarabine are effective.
A 5% acyclovir ointment may bring relief to patients with genital herpes or to immunosuppressed patients with HVH skin infections. I.V. acyclovir helps treat more severe infections. (See Treating and preventing herpes simplex.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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