Herpes Help

Valtrex, aka valacyclovir, is a prescription medication commonly used to treat cold sores and shingles. It can also be employed to treat genital herpes in patients with normal immune systems including patients with HIV. Valtrex will help to control the symptoms associated with herpes, but it will not cure the condition. Considered an antiviral drug, [...]

What kinds of herpes blood tests are available? If you suspect you have herpes, getting tested is a good idea. Accurate testing will lead to a proper diagnosis and help you get on the path to treatment. Some people diagnose themselves by symptoms alone and that can lead to years of problems. Testing can accurately [...]

A rare neurological disorder, herpes simplex encephalitis is characterized by the inflammation of the brain. Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), the condition can affect any age group, but it is most commonly found in people under the age of 20 and over 40. About 2,000 cases of HSE are diagnosed in the United States each [...]

Ocular, or Eye, Herpes is caused by the Type 1 Herpes Simplex Virus. A common, recurrent and viral infection of the eye, this condition, which generally affects only one eye, can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person whose virus is in an active stage. Nearly 400,000 Americans have reported at least one [...]

Herpes Zoster, aka shingles, is caused by varicella, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The condition, which lingers in nerve cells, can be rather painful. Most outbreaks last for at least several weeks and can be triggered by stress, disease and other factors. The first symptom of herps zoster is usually the existence of widespread [...]

The Herpes Zoster virus is also known as shingles. The condition, which usually presents as a skin rash, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, a common and highly contagious childhood disease. The name of that virus is Varicella zoster virus (VZV). After the initial outbreak of chickenpox, the herpes zoster virus lies [...]

Herpes outbreaks can be painful. No one looks forward to them. However, with a few simple measures and precautions, you can improve your comfort level during an outbreak. First and foremost, you should avoid touching open lesions or sores. During an outbreak, you should watch your hands frequently and clean underneath your fingernails. Secondly, it’s [...]

Herpes is a very common infection. Caused by two different (yet closely related viruses) called herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2, the disease is easy to catch. Both forms can infect the mouth and genital area, sometimes at the same time. Oral herpes describes cold sores and/or fever blisters that [...]

Genital Herpes, which is often referred to as Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). That means that gential herpes is most commonly spread through sexual contact. Within seven days of the initial skin to skin contact, the symptoms of genital herpes begin to appear. The most common symptom is a [...]

The Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1) is often referred to as oral herpes. It is very contagious and can be contracted by touching infected saliva, mucous membranes and/or skin. Common symptoms of a primary oral herps outbreak include: pain, burning, itching or tingling at the infection site (before sores appear) fever blisters cold sores [...]