Scientists Discover a Benefit to Having Herpes

[peggygee]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,273015,00.html
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Scientists Discover a Benefit to Having Herpes
By Charles Q. Choi


The herpes family of viruses can have a surprising upside — it can protect
against the bubonic plague and other bacterial contagions, at least in
mice.

Research into whether a similar mechanism applies to humans and other
mammalian hosts should be conducted, said viral immunologist Skip
Virgin at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "There
may be symbiotic advantages to chronic infections with these viruses."

These new results do not mean people should go out and get infected
with herpes, Virgin stressed. They probably already are.

Nearly all humans become infected with multiple herpes virus family
members during childhood. These germs not only include the herpes
simplex viruses, which lead to cold sores and possibly genital herpes, but
also the diseases responsible for chickenpox and "mono," as well as
several less well-known ailments.

Herpes infections have bedeviled animals for more than 100 million years.

After the initial period of infection, these viruses enter a dormant state
known as latency. Many lurk for the lifetime of their hosts "as permanent
passengers" without causing overt symptoms, Virgin said.

[Realgirls4me]

I had an AIDS question, but I'll look it up. :)


...No, I don't show or have shown genetal Herpes symptoms. I'm generally drawn to what Peggy's posts. ...She has a lot to offer as her posts have a lot of substance.

[SCdude]

A doctor named "Virgin" is head of a herpes study?

[peggygee]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/magi43/cdc.gif

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm

What is genital herpes?
How common is genital herpes?
How do people get genital herpes?
What are the signs and symptoms of genital herpes?
What are the complications of genital herpes?
How is genital herpes diagnosed?
Is there a treatment for herpes?
How can herpes be prevented?
Where can I get more information?



Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.



Results of a nationally representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or one out of five adolescents and adults, have had genital HSV infection. Between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection increased 30 percent.

Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of five). This may be due to male-to-female transmissions being more likely than female-to-male transmission.



HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected.

HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.



Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite pronounced. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or another skin condition.
Most people diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency.



Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

In addition, genital HSV can cause potentially fatal infections in babies. It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a first episode during pregnancy causes a greater risk of transmission to the baby. If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually performed. Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare.

Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.



The signs and symptoms associated with HSV-2 can vary greatly. Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks. Blood tests, which detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, may be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut.



There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.


The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Genital ulcer diseases can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes only when the infected area or site of potential exposure is protected. Since a condom may not cover all infected areas, even correct and consistent use of latex condoms cannot guarantee protection from genital herpes.

Persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms of herpes are present. It is important to know that even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners. Sex partners of infected persons should be advised that they may become infected. Sex partners can seek testing to determine if they are infected with HSV. A positive HSV-2 blood test most likely indicates a genital herpes infection.



Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Home Page
Genital Herpes - Topic Page
STDs and Pregnancy - Fact Sheet
Order Publications Online

STD information and referrals to STD Clinics
CDC-INFO
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
In English, en Español

National Herpes Hotline
(919) 361-8488

National Herpes Resource Center
herpesnet@ashastd.org

CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849-6003
1-800-458-5231
1-888-282-7681 Fax
1-800-243-7012 TTY
E-mail: info@cdcnpin.org

American Social Health Association (ASHA)
P. O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3827
1-800-783-9877

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines 2002. MMWR 2002;51(no. RR-6)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2002. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, October 2003.

Corey L, Wald A. Genital herpes. In: Holmes KK, Sparling PF, Mardh P et al (eds). Sexually Transmitted Disease, 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999, p. 285-312.

Corey L, Wald A, Patel R et al. Once-daily valacyclovir to reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes. New England Journal of Medicine 2004; 350:11-20.

Fleming DT, McQuillan GM, Johnson RE, Nahmias AJ, Aral SO, Lee FK, St. Louis ME. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in the United States, 1976 to 1994. NEJM 1997; 16:1105-1111.

Wald A, Langenberg AGM, Link K, et al. Effect of condoms on reducing the transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 from men to women. JAMA 2001;285: 3100-3106.

Wald A, Link K. Risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in herpes simplex virus infection in herpes simplex virus type 2 – seropositive persons: A meta-analysis. J Infect Dis 2002; 185: 45-52.

Weinstock H, Berman S, Cates W. Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: Incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2004; 36:6-10.

[peggygee]

I had an AIDS question, but I'll look it up. :)


...No, I don't show or have shown genetal Herpes symptoms. I'm generally drawn to what Peggy's posts. ...She has a lot to offer as her posts have a lot of substance.

Thanks sweety, I try to share 'the news that we can use'
with the transcommunity.

8)

[SkyTwo]

"The herpes family of viruses can have a surprising upside — it can protect
against the bubonic plague and other bacterial contagions, at least in
mice. "

That IS good news! Now mice won't have any objections at all to me stuffing them into my shorts! :D

[peggygee]

That IS good news! Now mice won't have any objections at all to me stuffing them into my shorts! :D

Thanks you just reminded me of a thread of
mine.

Post subject: Whats the deal you got a stick up your
ass....As a matter of....
http://www.hungangels.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=16824&highlight=stick

Time for some thread necromancy:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/magi43/1zombiegif.gif

[TJT]

Passenger? That's what that Iggy Pop song was about.