Treatment for Primary Infection and Recurrent Outbreaks of Herpes

In many parts of the world genital herpes is a common problem and is the result of herpes simplex virus or HSV. Mostly the problem of genital herpes is caused due to HSV-2 infection. It generally spreads due to sexual contact with someone who is already infected by HSV-2.

Symptoms

On the other hand HSV-1 is caused by coming in contact with an infected person and results in fever blisters or cold sores around the mouth. In case of HSV-2 the symptoms are very mild which are hardly noticeable. However, if symptoms appear soon after the infection then they are usually severe. They show up as small blisters and finally break open to produce painful and raw sores which tend to scab and heal in few weeks. These sores can also come with flu like symptoms in addition to swollen lymph nodes and fever.

Treatment of Herpes

There is no complete cure for herpes but antiviral medication can be useful in preventing as well as shortening the outbreaks. Additionally, suppressive therapy can also lower the chances of transmission of the infection to partners. A treatment plan is created based on whether the person is having the infection for first, known as primary infection or a recurrent outbreak where symptoms reappear.

Primary Infection

In case you are suffering from genital herpes for first time then you need to visit your general practitioner and they will usually prescribe any antiviral tablet to be taken 5 times every day. The benefit of these antiviral tablets is that they help in preventing herpes simplex virus (HSV) from multiplying. Medication course will normally be of 5 days or longer in case sores and blisters are forming at the time treatment starts.

Recurrent Outbreaks

It would be necessary to visit a GP in case your experience recurrent outbreaks. However, in a situation where there are only mild symptoms then the GP would suggest certain things to be done at home itself without requiring any treatment.

• Episodic Treatment: In case a patient has less than 6 recurrent outbreaks in a year then the GP would suggest 5 day course of antiviral tablets every time numbness or tingling is experienced before start of the symptoms.
• Suppressive Treatment: If a person has more than 6 outbreaks in a year or in case the symptoms are very severe and cause distress then you will be prescribed to take antiviral tablets on daily basis as part of long term treatment for the problem. The aim of this type of treatment is to stop further outbreaks from starting.

A Final Note

Thus as we can see herpes can be quite painful and cause a lot of distress. The only solution is to take proper medicines on regular basis to stop its reoccurrence. I have added some important video about cure herpes.