Herpes virus – Types and treatments

Herpes virus – Types and treatments

Herpes is one of the most common infections that is transmitted sexually. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sores develop on your mouth and face if you have oral herpes, whereas genital herpes affects the genitals and the anal area. This virus can even spread when you do not experience any symptoms of herpes. It is possible that a mother infects her baby during childbirth. The bad news is that once this virus enters your body it does not leave it and the good news is that you can treat it with the help of medications such as Valtrex and Famvir. Let us first have a look at the types of the herpes virus.

Types of herpes virus

There are two strains of this virus: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2). HSV 1 is generally associated with infections of the face, lips and mouth and it is the most common type of herpes virus that affects people of all ages, ranging from children to adults. HSV 2 is transmitted sexually in most cases and symptoms of this virus include sore and blisters on the genitals. At times, HSV 2 shows no symptoms and keeps on replicating inside the body. The first step in the treatment of herpes is getting it diagnosed by a good doctor.

Diagnosis of herpes virus

Some symptoms of herpes infection are blisters, ulcers, genital lesions, sores in and around the mouth, fever blisters and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin. A good doctor might be able to tell that you have herpes simply by having a look at the sores. But at times there are no visible symptoms on the body of the patient and the doctor might have to take a few tests before giving an opinion. Testing antibodies in the blood by serology and the direct fluorescent antibody test are generally taken for detecting this virus.

Treatment of herpes

Some cases of herpes infection do not need any type of treatment while some might need immediate attention. Generally, people who have prolonged outbreaks are the ones who need immediate attention. The first outbreak of herpes is painful while the recurring ones are mild. Use of effective medications helps in preventing the recurrences and reducing the frequency of the outbreaks. Most doctor advise their patients to use oral medications that are effective and have only a few side effects.

Valtrex and Famvir

Valtrex is an antiviral drug that slows down the growth and spread of the herpes virus and helps the body fight off the infection. Generally, it is used for the treatment of symptoms, which are caused by the herpes virus. Other than for the treatment of genital herpes, it is also used to treat shingles, chickenpox and cold sores. Famvir is another effective medication that is used for the treatment of herpes. It works in a similar fashion to that of Valtrex. Both these medications might not interact well with other drugs. Always consult a doctor before using any of these medications.