Did you know that more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day? Herpes is one such infection.

If estimates are to be believed about 67% of the global population has herpes simplex virus.

Are you someone suffering from Herpes and looking for treatment solutions?

If yes, you’re in the right place.

In this blog you can learn more about herpes and its treatments. Let us dive right into it.

What is Herpes ?

Here’s a quick recap of what herpes is.

• Herpes is caused by a virus named Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).

• Herpes simplex viruses are enveloped DNA viruses that initially infect and later reactivate periodically due to lying dormant in sensory ganglia.

• Recurrence depends on numerous factors including the medical history and health of a patient.

• They commonly cause mild infection. 

Types of Herpes

Symptoms

Here are the signs that you should watch out for.

• Redness, burning or tingling sensation with small bumps in mouth or genitals 
• Pain and itching around genitals
• Fever and headache
• Body ache
• Painful urination

Causes

Curious to know about the causes of herpes? Here you go:

• Lack of Barrier Protection
• Vertical Transmission
• Infected Body Fluids
• Weakened Immune Systems
• Asymptomatic Shedding

Prevention

Here are some useful hacks.

• Safe Sex Practices (Use of condoms and dental dams)
• Regular Testing
• Avoiding Multiple Sex Partners
• Avoid Contact during Outbreak

Herpes attacks the immunity of the body. So, If you have Herpes there is a high chance of you getting other infections including HIV.

Prevention is the key to staying safe.

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms, undergo regular screenings.

Even though there is no cure for Herpes the research is still progressing. 

By following a proper hygiene habit, and prevention along with the treatments you can lead a normal life with Herpes.

Treatment For Herpes

Things you must know:

• Start treatment within 24 hours of initial symptoms, (for example a tingling feeling). This will help to reduce the duration of the outbreak significantly.

• If you are having a recurrent episode of herpes, treatment would be most effective in the first 48 hours since the appearance of symptoms.

• Currently, only antiviral drugs are used to treat herpes simplex, while experimental vaccines are being explored.

1. Antiviral Medication

• Antiviral therapy is to reduce the symptoms of first or the episodic symptoms.

• They are also used as suppressive therapy when used on a daily basis.

• These drugs cannot completely kill the virus or the risks.

• Famciclovir and valacyclovir offer improved oral bioavailability and convenient oral dosing schedules. But these are more expensive than acyclovir.

• Newly acquired genital herpes can cause prolonged clinical illnesses with genital ulcers. All patients with first episode of genital herpes should receive antiviral therapy. 

Recommended Regimens (of either of these)

• Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/day for 7–10 days 

• Famciclovir 250 mg orally 3 times/day for 7–10 days

• Valacyclovir 1 gm orally 2 times/day for 7–10 days

• Suppressive therapies help patients in having no or less frequent outbreaks.

• Suppressive antiviral therapy can be used as part of a strategy for preventing transmission, in addition to consistent condom use and avoidance of sexual activity during recurrences.

Recommended Regimens(of either of these)

• Acyclovir 400 mg orally 2 times/day

• Valacyclovir 500 mg orally once a day (less effective for suppressive therapy patients with more than 10 episodes per year)

• Valacyclovir 1 gm orally once a day

• Famciclovir 250 mg orally 2 times/day

2. Pain relievers

• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used if the blisters are painful.

• Topical (externally applied) antiviral treatments such as creams or ointments don't provide any relief, but they can increase the risk of viral resistance. Experts advise against using topical treatments for genital herpes.

3. Home Remedies

• Bathing in warm salt water or soaking in a warm sitz bath.

• Wearing loose fitting clothes

• Applying aloe-vera or petroleum jelly

• Maintaining personal hygiene   Remember - herpes may not show visible symptoms in some cases.

The treatment and medicine will be also different for different peoples with respect to their previous medical histories, allergies or any other condition.

Research On Treatment And Vaccine Development

Drug resistance possess a major threat to reducing the burden of STIs worldwide. There is no cure for Herpes. However, research is ongoing to find a proper cure for herpes.

In 2015 the World Health Organization convened HSV Vaccine Impact Model.

Ongoing Research 

• BioNTech target Herpes: Vaccine Development using messenger RNA (mRNA). 

• BTL-TML-HSV: A novel therapeutic drug for recurrent oral herpes.\

• HerpV: A therapeutically administered vaccination .