Conditions Confused with Herpes

Listed below are some other conditions sometimes mistaken for herpes:

Bacterial or yeast infections

do not usually produce blistering

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers)

are gray with a distinct edge

usually occur inside the mouth

usually heal within 10-14 days without treatment

Impetigo

is a highly infectious bacterial disease

often produces crusty blisters

is more common among children


Molluscum contagiosum (molluscum)

like herpes, molluscum is a viral infection of the skin

unlike herpes, molluscum produces lesions that are raised, with a central dimple

Syphilis

is a bacterial infection

causes chancres sometimes mistaken for blisters caused by genital herpes

Unlike genital herpes, Syphilis does not usually produce a cluster of blisters, and it usually responds well to antibiotics.

Source: http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/std/herpes.htm

Diet to Control Herpes

Good diet is also a very important factor to control herpes. Scientists have found that for herpes infected people it’s benefit to have a diet high in lysine and low in arginine.

So let’s find out what foods are high in lysine and low in arginine.

Recommended Foods: high in lysine and low in arginine

Fish, chicken, beef, lamb, milk, cheese, beans, brewer's yeast, mung bean sprouts and most fruits and vegetables, except for peas.

Not recommended foods

Gelatin, chocolate, carob, coconut, oats, wholewheat and, white flour, peanuts, soybeans, and wheatgerm.

Of course, everything is relative in our world, so don’t take it as an absolute truth. The matter is the scientists continue their discoveries. So try to follow their advices but be careful! I think in any case we have to listen to our body, not only to someone recommendations. If you’d like chocolate that isn’t reccommended please have it at least sometimes! In any case positive emotions are also very important for us.

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How is herpes diagnosed?

The question is: how herpes can be diagnosed? Maybe it’s not herpes at all but something else? Some other disease that isn’t so bad? Of course, you have to make sure!

Herpes is diagnosed by testing a sample taken from an ulcer or blister. There is no readily available reliable blood test for the virus, and there is no certain diagnosis for individuals who are asymptomatic.

Be healthy!

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Symptoms of herpes

Many individuals infected with herpes never have any symptoms and do not know they are infected. The initial herpes infection may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and swollen glands (lymph nodes), in addition to blisters and ulcers on and around the genitals, thighs, buttocks, and anus or on the lips, mouth, throat, tongue, and gums.

Lesions may also be found within the vagina and on the cervix. In the case of genital infection, there may also be pain and itching where the sore is located or burning with urination. These blisters eventually crust over, form a scab, and heal, usually within 1-3 weeks.

Once the initial infection has resolved, some people experience outbreaks of genital blisters, ulcers, or small sores, which can occur on the penis, vulva, anus, buttocks, and/or thighs. Itching and tingling in the genitals are often an early warning sign that an outbreak is soon to occur. The frequency and severity of outbreaks varies from one person to the next.

Sores that occur during outbreaks generally last 3-7 days and are not as painful as those of the initial infection, and systemic symptoms are rare. However, some people may experience recurrent, painful genital ulcers. In addition, people with suppressed immune systems may experience severe, persistent ulcers.

What triggers a herpes outbreak?

If you have herpes sometimes outbreaks occur. Why? What’s a reason?

Unfortunately, outbreaks of herpes can be triggered by a number of factors, including:

• Stress
  


• Sunlight
  


• Sickness or fever
  


• Certain types of foods or beverages (including peanuts, alcohol, and coffee).
  

Can infection with herpes lead to other health problems?

Although genital herpes usually causes mild symptoms, some people may experience recurrent painful genital ulcers, which can be especially severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Like other STIs, herpes may also increase the risk for transmitting or acquiring HIV infection.

Be healthy!

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Herpes risk factors

There are some risk factors for herpes.

In general they are connected with sex and sexual partners.

Herpes risk factors include:

• unsafe sex
• having sex with more than one partner
• having sex with someone who has multiple sex partners.

So be careful having sex!

How can you protect yourself from getting herpes?

The chance of becoming infected with herpes can be reduced by avoiding risky sexual behaviors.

To reduce your risk:

• Use latex or polyurethane condoms during sex. While this may help reduce the risk of transmission, transmission may still occur if herpes lesions are on parts of the body not covered by the condom.

• Limit the number of your sex partners.

• Avoid any contact with a partner who has sores until the sores are completely healed.

• Avoid having sex until the sores are fully healed or use a male or female condom during anal, oral, or vaginal sex. However, transmission can still occur if the condom does not cover the sores.

• Avoid having sex just before or during an outbreak, since the risk for transmission is highest at that time. If possible, encourage your partner to let you know at the first sign(s) of an outbreak so that you both can avoid sex then.

• If possible, ask any potential sexual partners if they have ever had a herpes outbreak, and encourage them to see a health care provider or clinic for more information—even if they do not have any symptoms.

Be healthy and happy!

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More about Genital Herpes Spreading

Hi everybody! I’d like to add some words about genital herpes spreading because it’s very important point.

Unfortunately, genital herpes is spread very easily. Because of contact with an infected person the herpes virus can penetrate to your body through any break!

It could be break in your skin or the skin of your mouth, penis or vagina, urinary tract opening, cervix or anus. You can think that herpes is spread when it’s evident that the person is infected, e.g. the herpes symptoms are evident and obvious. Helas it’s not the case.

Of course herpes is most easily spread when it’s on the active stage of disease, when you can see blisters or sores on the body of infected individual. But the very bad news is that it can be spread at any time! Imagine, in any time! Even when there aren't any symptoms!

As I’ve mentioned already, genital herpes is usually spread from one person to another during sexual contact. It’s about any sex, including oral and anal sex. Herpes can also be spread from one place on your body to another: from your genitals to your fingers! Then it could be transmitted to other parts of your body! To your face, lips, eyes!

By the way, to the attention of pregnant women: remember that herpes virus can also be transmitted from a mother to her baby during delivery!

More about herpes and pregnancy read in my next post… To be continued.

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How Did You Get Herpes?

Perhaps from time to time you ask himself or herself: how did it happen? How did I get this awful disease?

I’ve found out that herpes spreads through intimate skin contact with an infected person. The bad news is that the virus transmission can occur when the infected person does not even have any visual symptoms of herpes – blisters or ulcers or some other things like that! Some people may never have any symptoms and may not know that they are infected with the herpes virus at all! Unfortunately they can still transmit the herpes virus to others people.

Do you like kissing? I think so because it’s so pleasant. So am I but… Do you know that oral herpes can be spread through kissing??? Terrible!

So I thing everything is clear about oral herpes. But what about more awful disease? I mean genital herpes…

It’s natural that genital herpes is transmitted through sexual contact. Remember, any sexual contact! Vaginal, anal, oral! Can you imagine that the virus can be transmitted from oral to genital regions and vice versa during oral sex??? But that is the case.

So what to do? You have to be careful of course in order to protect yourself. But if the herpes virus transmission has happened already… Keep reading!

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Could You Get Rid of Herpes?

Any person having herpes ask himself or herself: could I get rid of it?

Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of herpes. Once you have herpes, the virus stays in your body for the lifetime. And from time to time you will have outbreaks. The truth is that there is no cure for herpes!

But there are some drugs that can be effective! They can reduce the frequency, shorten duration of herpes and even stop outbreaks. So we have to use good medicines and of course to consult with doctors. The science is developing and maybe tomorrow scientists could discover new effective drugs that could ultimately cure herpes!

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About Herpes

One day I’ve found I have herpes. I was very upset. It was awful and so painful and I didn’t know what to do. Now I know that herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Moreover, there are two subtypes if the virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. In fact, Herpes is the name of a group of viruses. These viruses cause terrible diseases: HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause blisters and ulcers on the mouth, face and genitals, or around the anus.

There are two kinds of herpes. One kind, herpes simplex, causes both cold sores around the mouth and genital herpes (herpes around the sexual organs). The second one, herpes zoster, causes chickenpox and shingles.

But the most terrible thing is that once you are infected with herpes, it’s forever! Doctor says that any infected person remains infected for the whole life! Of course, it’s bad news. But there is also good news: the herpes virus can be "latent" or "not active" and not causing diseases for long periods of time!

So things are not so bad. We have to fight for healthy life! Let’s do it together!

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Herpes. What to do?

Hi! It's my first post to my blog about herpes, herpes treatment, genital herpes, herpes symptoms and what to do with it! It's my own and my friends' experience. To be continued!

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