|
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
Natural cold sore remedy
Step by step instructions to make cold sores vanish in just 3 days using all-natural, inexpensive ingredients that are probably sitting in your house right now.
Herpes
When someone says "Herpes" they are usually referring to genital
herpes. Those cold sores normally occurring near and inside your
mouth are generally referred to as oral herpes, while those Herpes
sores occurring on and around your genitals are referred to as genital
herpes.
The following are two forms of
Herpes:
- Herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1)
- Herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2)
It was previously believed that herpes simplex-1 was
causing only 30% of genital herpes cases and was primarily a herpes
found around the mouth area, while herpes simplex-2 was the main
culprit for genital herpes. This gave a false sense of security
that herpes simplex-1was less likely to transfer to the genitals.
However, a recent study of Univ. of Wisconsin Madison college students
over a decade found that herpes
simplex-1 was in fact the cause of 78% of all genital herpes cases.
This means cold sores from the mouth commonly
cause genital herpes through unprotected oral sex. They also
found that HSV-1 was more common in ages 16 to 21 than older ages,
which puts teens at higher risk. The most scary thing is that the
herpes simplex-1 virus is infective a couple days before a cold
sore appears, so people can be shedding the
virus in their saliva and have no idea that they are infectious.
The reason, simplex-1 has become the main cause of genital herpes
on this particular campus, may quite possibly be because people
tend to use protection during intercourse but not during oral sex.
Remember, any form of herpes is not curable. You may be able to
decrease the frequency of flare ups (when the sores appear) with
medication, but you will never be rid of the disease.
Oral Herpes
Methods
of contraction
Passed through kissing and oral sex. The infection is contagious
just before and during outbreaks. So, we highly recomend avoiding
kissing someone with an open sore on their mouth and always using
protection during oral sex.
Symptoms
- Tingly sensations on and around the lips,
followed by pimple like lesions, fever blisters or cold sores
in this area.
- Painful canker sores inside the mouth, usually
in some deep recess like where the gums meet the cheek or on and
around the tongue.
Oral herpes may show up at certain times in a person's
life especially during emotional or physical stress. Usually symptoms
such as fever blisters and cold sores become less frequent as time
goes by, and may discontinue all together. Symptoms can be frequent
at one time in a person's life and non-existent later in life.
Stress, and failure to live a healthy life, with plenty of sleep,
relaxation, exercise and a well balanced diet, could cause outbreaks
to occur more frequently and more severely. Frequency and severity
of outbreaks also depends on the individual. Don't freak out
if you have oral herpes. It is very common, easily contracted and
most often does not seriously or adversely effect one's life.
But do know, that you can transmit oral herpes to the genitals of
your partner.
Treatment
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy balanced meal. Exercise. Get
8 hours of sleep every night. This alone will boost your immune
system and reduce the frequency of breakouts.
A cream or pill with acyclovir can be prescribed.
This is used during the early phases of a breakout, as when a tingly
sensation develops on or around the lips, to shorten the time in
which symptoms occur.
There is no cure, but oral herpes is generally fairly
harmless. Problems will develop if the virus gets in the eye. If
left untreated, viral infections of the eye could travel up the
optic nerve to enter the brain, so avoid touching your eyes after
touching your blisters during an outbreak. If your herpes blisters
show up near your eyes, see a physician immediately. They will probably
prescribe medication.
Genital Herpes
An infection of the herpes simplex type 2 virus
existing in every 1 in 5 Americans over 12 years of age.
Methods of contraction
Sexual contact, intercourse and commonly through
oral sex. Also, newborns of mothers with genital herpes can contract
a severe and often fatal brain infection during birth if the herpes
is in its active form and the baby is delivered through the vagina.
If the disease is in it's active form during labor, the newborn
can be protected by delivery via Caesarian section.
Symptoms (usually occurring
2 to 7 days and possibly up to 20 days after exposure)
- Itching or burning in the genital area
- Tiny clusters of painful, fluid-filled blisters
or open sores spreading around the inside and outside of the genital
area, the anus, buttocks and thighs.
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Aching muscles
- Fever
- Recurrent outbreaks
Diagnosis
During an outbreak a cotton swab of puss is taken from the sores
and cultured.
Treatment
There is no cure or vaccine. Whenever sores are present, the infection
is highly contagious. It also can be contagious just prior to an
outbreak. The severity and frequency of outbreaks can be reduced
with the following treatments.
- Acyclovir can be taken in pill form or applied
as a cream to shorten flare-ups and to reduce symptoms.
- ImmuVir is an over-the-counter ointment used
to relieve symptoms of pain and shorten the duration of a herpes
outbreak.
- BHT found in health-food stores is not recommended
because it hasn't been proven to be effective at preventing
herpes outbreaks. It also has many negative side effects, including
severe stomach cramps, vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
- Your doctor can prescribe oral medication
Reduce herpes outbreaks by avoiding...
- Hot baths
- Tight clothing
- Chocolate
- Nuts and seeds
- Stress
- By living a healthy life including...
 |
- 8 hours of sleep
- A healthy diet
- Exercise
- Rest & relaxation
|
When outbreaks occur, keep the sores clean and dry.
Women with genital herpes might be at higher risk
for cervical cancer, so they must get a Pap smear at least once
but preferably twice a year. Cervical cancer is easily detected
at an early stage and is easily treated at this time.
Pregnant women with genital herpes can transfer the
disease to the baby as it passes through the birth canal. Caesarian
section should prevent transfer.
References:
"Cold sore virus is cause of new genital
herpes" Reported at National STD Prevention Conference in San
diego, by UW-Madison Univ. Health Services
epidemiologist, Craig Roberts, and Wisonsin state Laboratory of
Hygiene epidemiologist John Pfister, 3/4/02

|