There are several different viruses that intermingle in order to create the herpes virus. There are type different forms – Simplex 1 and Simplex 2. You will generally find Simplex 1 herpes on the face around the lips while Simplex 2 is generally confined to the genital areas. It is possible for them to be spread all over the body if you touch the infected areas and then other parts of the body.
Many people don’t realize that shingles is a type of herpes virus. Every person actually has this in their body around the spinal region. It is the virus responsible for chicken pox. However after the person has chicken pox the virus remains in the body in a dormant status. For some people though it is active and causes a thick and painful rash to occur in areas of the body. The sores often form scabs. An episode of shingles can last days, weeks, or months. The person is also prone to them recurring.
Herpes is a very serious issue and a virus that is very easily spread. More than fifty million people in the United States have the virus. This means one in five adults has a form of Simplex 1 or Simplex 2 virus. The main reason why it is spreading like wildfire is people don’t realize they have it. The symptoms of herpes are often dismissed as a yeast infection or a bladder infection. It may be years down the road before the person realizes they have herpes.
There is no known cure for herpes but there are a couple of good quality medications on the market to select from. Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir are the most common ones. Some individuals turn to herbal medicine because they don’t want to cover the cost of prescription drugs to treat herpes. There are various plants said to heal the symptoms of herpes including lemon balm, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
With so many people affected by herpes you can be sure the medical profession will continue to look for a cure. Until then using prescription medications to treat herpes is a good option. Preventing it all together is another by always having protected sex and not kissing someone with herpes found on their mouth during an outbreak.
