Herpes Doctor

A virus is a living organism smaller than a bacteria. It needs a
living cell to live, grow and reproduce. The virus uses living cells
as hosts.

In humans, viruses are responsible for many illnesses, both harmless and
dangerous, ranging from the common cold, the flu and Herpes
to Hepatitis, Ebola and AIDS. Most viruses are very
adaptable and often mutate.

Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as genetic material. Herpes
viruses contain DNA whereas HIV which causes AIDS contains RNA.
Most viruses will stay in your body permanently but be latent most
of the time. They can be very difficult to cure but quite often the
symptoms can be treated.

The main Herpes viruses are:

• Herpes Simplex 1: Causes Oral Herpes - cold
  sores
• Herpes Simplex 2: Causes Genital Herpes
• Varicella Herpes Zoster: Causes chickenpox in
  children and shingles in seniors

Herpes Simplex

Herpes Simplex has probably been around as long as mankind. It
is a highly adaptable virus which fortunately is fairly harmless. It
is estimated that 90% of all people have Herpes Simplex 1 and 1 in
5 adults have Herpes Simplex 2.

Herpes Simplex transfers via
skin to skin contact. Herpes Simplex 1 can transfer to
the genitals via oral sex just as Herpes Simplex 2 can transfer
to the mouth via oral sex. The virus will remain in your body
for life once you have contracted it but will be latent for most of the time.

There is no cure for Herpes Simplex
but the symptoms can be treated with antiviral agents with good
results. They work by keeping the virus latent and reducing the
severity, frequency and duration of outbreaks as well as the risk of passing it on to others.

Herpes Zoster

Varicella Herpes Zoster spreads via the humidity in the air but
only in the incubation period of chickenpox. When the symptoms
of chickenpox are full blown, the virus is not contagious.

Chickenpox is not usually treated as it can't be cured, it goes away
on its own and normally only occurs once in a lifetime. It is
estimated that 90% of all people have chickenpox in childhood.

There is a chickenpox vaccine which is now recommended for children
in most countries. The vaccine does not eliminate the risk of
chickenpox but it will reduce it considerably.

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