Herpes is considered to be a sexually transmitted infection caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). This dangerous virus is quite common today in the United States. According to the latest statistics, over 16% of people between the ages of 14 and 49 have a genital HSV-2 infection.
Herpes Symptoms
The truth is that most people infected with herpes won’t experience any symptoms at all, and this is the main reason they are unaware of contracting this disease. Most common symptoms appear as a form of blisters on the genitals, while some are present as sores around the mouth. The primary symptoms, which appear for people who are infected for the first time, can last up to 20 days. They include vaginal discharge, malaise, pain when urinating and blisters on the cervix, thighs, rectum and buttocks.
The recurrent infection symptoms, which are not that painful because the patient is more immune to the virus, include burning or tingling around genitals, red blisters and cold sores in the mouth area.
In order to keep away from herpes, you should avoid having unprotected sex, whether it’s vaginal, anal or oral. Moreover, try not to share sex toys with somebody else. The good news is that even if you’ve contracted HSV, there are several ways you can be cured.
Treatments and Remedies
There are three main categories of treatments for herpes:
1. Medication. You can’t get rid of the virus by taking drugs, but you can prevent it from multiplying. Doctors usually prescribe an antiviral, such as acyclovir, which can reduce the severity of symptoms.
2. Episodic and suppressive treatment. Each type of treatment is specially designed to help you get rid of HSV. However, the drawback of this method is about its cost, which might break your budget.
3. Natural and home remedies. Certainly the best type of treatments, because they are free and quite effective. You can try bathing in lightly salted water, apply ice on the skin, apply vaseline on the affected area, wash your hands thoroughly and the most important, refrain from a regular sexual activity until the symptoms have completely gone.
So to summarize, the herpes virus is a contagious and prevalent disease and is very common so it is a wise idea to be aware of the dangers so you can identify and act accordingly when the virus strikes.
I hope you have enjoyed this short article and some of the points made have sunk in so you can address your concerns more confidently and enjoy a healthy body and mind.
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Author: Sammy JayJay writes for Home Remedies Log where you can find further information and remedies for herpes and related health conditions.