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An Overview of Herpes Virus Infections
Genital Herpes Infection
Herpes Simplex infection is statistically the number one STD (sexually transmitted disease) in
the U.S. and the World. Genital Herpes is epidemic and spreading at an estimated rate of a half million
people per year. Some statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 6 American adults have genital Herpes.
This translates to over 40 million, and does not include the millions more who carry HSV-1 that may
cause genital Herpes acquired through oral-genital relations or other means.
Many researchers believe these numbers may fall short of actuality, some estimating genital
herpes infection in as many as 1 in 4 adults. The shame and social stigma associated with Herpes,
coupled with the fact that HSV can be hard to detect or identify in some individuals, is misdiagnosed at
times, and is not a reportable STD, contribute to the undermining of reliable statistical evidence.
Some studies have shown that upwards of 60% of people infected with genital Herpes have
not recognized or admitted that they have the infection.
Misinformation dominates most discussions relating to Herpesvirus infection. Even many
medical professionals in the U.S. are not abreast of the latest developments in Herpes research,
diagnosis, tests, and treatment. Many patients find their medical practitioners to be relatively
unsympathetic to the physical and emotional challenges associated with HSV. In fairness, one must
understand that HSV counseling does enter a realm in which many MDs are not comfortable, or for which
they may not have time, namely psychological and sexual counseling.
Herpes can be a serious health issue for certain people. However, most find Herpes to be
mainly inconvenient, annoying, and occasionally aggravating.
Herpes in Other Areas of the Body
Herpes is spread through direct contact. So, a genital herpes infection will stay "below the belt"
unless transferred elsewhere via direct contact or skin-to-skin transference - it won't just show up on its
own somewhere else on the body. However, a recurrent episode may appear in any area in the genital
region served by the branches of nerves connected to the sacral ganglion where the virus resides during
its latent stage. It's often said that a recurrence of genital herpes may show up anywhere that can be
covered by a pair of shorts. This is why many people get lesions in different spots with each outbreak.
For further discussion of this aspect of herpes, please see the HerpeSite Recurrences & Outbreaks
page.
Herpes can be carried in saliva from contact with an open sore, and can be passed via incidental
transmission from fingers or hand when the virus is active. Touching a sore, and then touching another
part of the body, or another person's body, can transmit the virus. Washing ones hands with soap and
water will inactivate Herpes virus that may be on skin.
Carriers of HSV who are prone to cuts on fingers are susceptible to Herpes Whitlow, or Herpes
infection of the fingers. Anyone with oral cold sores or genital outbreaks should avoid touching active
Herpes lesions, wash hands right away in the event of contact, and refrain from biting nails for this
reason.
A Herpes infection in the eyes can lead to severe complications, including blindness, so extreme
care should be taken to avoid transmission or transferal of the virus to the eyes.
Transmission of HSV during childbirth can result in neonatal infant mortality or severe congenital
abnormalities. In the past, it was a standard practice to deliver babies from an infected mother via
Cesarean section. However, there is recent evidence that mothers who have Herpes, unless they are
having a PRIMARY (first time) Herpes infection during term, stand, in most cases, to deliver successfully
via birth canal with a relatively low rate of neo-natal Herpes.
Herpes can be transmitted during close non-sexual physical contact, as during sports such as wrestling,
where the skin may become scraped or abraded and then come in contact with another's exposed oral
herpes sore. This is called Herpes Gladiatorum, and, more recently has been called "mat herpes."
Good News about Herpes and Risk of Cancer
For years it was reported that HSV was linked to cervical cancer. The latest reports contradict that, and
indicate there is no direct correlation. However, having any STD puts one in a higher statistical risk
category. Several strains of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus, or Genital Warts) have recently been shown
to be linked to higher incidence of cervical cancer.
Cold Sores and Hot Spots - A Different Idea!
The social stigma associated with genital herpes is not found nearly as much with oral herpes.
One reason for this may be that oral herpes is generally not referred to as "herpes," even by people
who know that HSV is the cause of the outbreak. When speaking of their oral/facial outbreaks, people
say they "get cold sores," or "get fever blisters." Usually, when people refer to genital herpes, they say
they "have herpes." The difference is in "get" (which is external and less personal) versus "have" (which
implies ownership and makes it seem like part of a person's identity). Another difference is in using the
word "herpes," to which so many people have negative associations.
We have a proposal! To lessen the stigma and negative associations of the word "herpes," when
referring to genital outbreaks, it can often make an emotional difference to use a different set of words to
describe it. It has been said that the words we use to describe an experience determine how we feel
about it. For example, if we say we feel "angry," or "livid," we'll have a more intense experience than if we
change the words to "peeved" or "miffed." Similarly, if we say "I am depressed," we'll have a much more
intense and associated experience than if we say "I feel a bit off today." Again, the difference in those
two statements is in the intensity of the words used and in the identity of "I am" versus the experience"I
feel."
Since oral herpes is called "Cold Sores," it can help your mindset to refer to genital herpes as "Hot
Spots" or "Cold Sores." Produces a different effect, doesn't it! It really doesn't matter what word you
use, as long as it's one that reduced the emotional intensity. Also, try saying "get" instead of "have." And
avoid saying "MY herpes" because that kind of language pattern implies that the virus a part of your
identity and close to you, rather than something that is emotionally outside of you. In addition, eliminate
the words "suffer" and "victim," and any other disempowering word that may have been in your
vocabulary about yourself or the infection. Try it for 10 days, and notice the difference in how you think
about it, and yourself!
Even though feelings of sadness, loss, and anger may come up from time to time, the more
you practice feeling good, the easier it gets and the longer it lasts! Congratulate yourself for
overcoming, and for taking steps to improve your mind and body health! More Helpful Hints
for physical and emotional well-being can be found throughout HerpeSite.
Genital Herpes Infection
Herpes Simplex infection is statistically the number one STD (sexually transmitted disease) in
the U.S. and the World. Genital Herpes is epidemic and spreading at an estimated rate of a half million
people per year. Some statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 6 American adults have genital Herpes.
This translates to over 40 million, and does not include the millions more who carry HSV-1 that may
cause genital Herpes acquired through oral-genital relations or other means.
Many researchers believe these numbers may fall short of actuality, some estimating genital
herpes infection in as many as 1 in 4 adults. The shame and social stigma associated with Herpes,
coupled with the fact that HSV can be hard to detect or identify in some individuals, is misdiagnosed at
times, and is not a reportable STD, contribute to the undermining of reliable statistical evidence.
Some studies have shown that upwards of 60% of people infected with genital Herpes have
not recognized or admitted that they have the infection.
Misinformation dominates most discussions relating to Herpesvirus infection. Even many
medical professionals in the U.S. are not abreast of the latest developments in Herpes research,
diagnosis, tests, and treatment. Many patients find their medical practitioners to be relatively
unsympathetic to the physical and emotional challenges associated with HSV. In fairness, one must
understand that HSV counseling does enter a realm in which many MDs are not comfortable, or for which
they may not have time, namely psychological and sexual counseling.
Herpes can be a serious health issue for certain people. However, most find Herpes to be
mainly inconvenient, annoying, and occasionally aggravating.
Herpes in Other Areas of the Body
Herpes is spread through direct contact. So, a genital herpes infection will stay "below the belt"
unless transferred elsewhere via direct contact or skin-to-skin transference - it won't just show up on its
own somewhere else on the body. However, a recurrent episode may appear in any area in the genital
region served by the branches of nerves connected to the sacral ganglion where the virus resides during
its latent stage. It's often said that a recurrence of genital herpes may show up anywhere that can be
covered by a pair of shorts. This is why many people get lesions in different spots with each outbreak.
For further discussion of this aspect of herpes, please see the HerpeSite Recurrences & Outbreaks
page.
Herpes can be carried in saliva from contact with an open sore, and can be passed via incidental
transmission from fingers or hand when the virus is active. Touching a sore, and then touching another
part of the body, or another person's body, can transmit the virus. Washing ones hands with soap and
water will inactivate Herpes virus that may be on skin.
Carriers of HSV who are prone to cuts on fingers are susceptible to Herpes Whitlow, or Herpes
infection of the fingers. Anyone with oral cold sores or genital outbreaks should avoid touching active
Herpes lesions, wash hands right away in the event of contact, and refrain from biting nails for this
reason.
A Herpes infection in the eyes can lead to severe complications, including blindness, so extreme
care should be taken to avoid transmission or transferal of the virus to the eyes.
Transmission of HSV during childbirth can result in neonatal infant mortality or severe congenital
abnormalities. In the past, it was a standard practice to deliver babies from an infected mother via
Cesarean section. However, there is recent evidence that mothers who have Herpes, unless they are
having a PRIMARY (first time) Herpes infection during term, stand, in most cases, to deliver successfully
via birth canal with a relatively low rate of neo-natal Herpes.
Herpes can be transmitted during close non-sexual physical contact, as during sports such as wrestling,
where the skin may become scraped or abraded and then come in contact with another's exposed oral
herpes sore. This is called Herpes Gladiatorum, and, more recently has been called "mat herpes."
Good News about Herpes and Risk of Cancer
For years it was reported that HSV was linked to cervical cancer. The latest reports contradict that, and
indicate there is no direct correlation. However, having any STD puts one in a higher statistical risk
category. Several strains of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus, or Genital Warts) have recently been shown
to be linked to higher incidence of cervical cancer.
Cold Sores and Hot Spots - A Different Idea!
The social stigma associated with genital herpes is not found nearly as much with oral herpes.
One reason for this may be that oral herpes is generally not referred to as "herpes," even by people
who know that HSV is the cause of the outbreak. When speaking of their oral/facial outbreaks, people
say they "get cold sores," or "get fever blisters." Usually, when people refer to genital herpes, they say
they "have herpes." The difference is in "get" (which is external and less personal) versus "have" (which
implies ownership and makes it seem like part of a person's identity). Another difference is in using the
word "herpes," to which so many people have negative associations.
We have a proposal! To lessen the stigma and negative associations of the word "herpes," when
referring to genital outbreaks, it can often make an emotional difference to use a different set of words to
describe it. It has been said that the words we use to describe an experience determine how we feel
about it. For example, if we say we feel "angry," or "livid," we'll have a more intense experience than if we
change the words to "peeved" or "miffed." Similarly, if we say "I am depressed," we'll have a much more
intense and associated experience than if we say "I feel a bit off today." Again, the difference in those
two statements is in the intensity of the words used and in the identity of "I am" versus the experience"I
feel."
Since oral herpes is called "Cold Sores," it can help your mindset to refer to genital herpes as "Hot
Spots" or "Cold Sores." Produces a different effect, doesn't it! It really doesn't matter what word you
use, as long as it's one that reduced the emotional intensity. Also, try saying "get" instead of "have." And
avoid saying "MY herpes" because that kind of language pattern implies that the virus a part of your
identity and close to you, rather than something that is emotionally outside of you. In addition, eliminate
the words "suffer" and "victim," and any other disempowering word that may have been in your
vocabulary about yourself or the infection. Try it for 10 days, and notice the difference in how you think
about it, and yourself!
Even though feelings of sadness, loss, and anger may come up from time to time, the more
you practice feeling good, the easier it gets and the longer it lasts! Congratulate yourself for
overcoming, and for taking steps to improve your mind and body health! More Helpful Hints
for physical and emotional well-being can be found throughout HerpeSite.
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There's a lot more here at HerpeSite! Bookmark this page and click the topics below to continue: Questions, Comments, & Feedback contact: support (at) HerpeSite. org Over 3,000,000 Visitors since 1996! This Reference Copyright © 1996 … 2010 HerpeSite(tm) Privacy & No Spam Policy Disclaimer Copies may be made and distributed to anyone who may benefit, as long as there is no charge and the disclaimers remain intact. www. herpesite. org Originally a resource for the AOL Herpes Support Community at www.members.aol.com/herpesite/ |
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