How to treat herpes: drugs and folk remedies. How is herpes transmitted?

How to treat herpes? This question is asked by approximately nine out of ten people. The herpes virus lives in the body of almost every one of us, while for a long time it may not be able to declare its presence. Many mistakenly believe that its manifestation causes a catarrhal disease. But is it really so? We will figure out what types of herpes virus exist , whether this disease is contagious, and how to overcome it.

What is this disease

Speaking of herpes, many imagine painful vesicle rashes on the lips, which greatly spoil the appearance. However, the disease can manifest itself not only in this way. The clinical signs of this infection depend on the particular type of herpes virus that has infected the body. Indeed, the herpes simplex virus type 1 is most often found, but to date, other types of the disease are known:

The reasons for the "awakening" of the virus

As already mentioned, herpes "lives" in the bodies of many people, not declaring itself any symptoms. But why then do people have these vesicles on their lips, skin, and mucous membranes? Each of us has an idea of ​​what herpes looks like, but we will return to a detailed description of the symptoms a bit later. In the meantime, let's try to determine the factors that trigger the activation of the virus. The main causes of herpes are usually attributed to:

• hypothermia;
• acute respiratory disease;
• stress, severe psycho-emotional shock;
• weakened immunity;
• intrauterine infection;
• severe intoxication of the body.

What does herpes look like?

Regardless of the localization of characteristic rashes, their occurrence is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• hyperemia of the affected area;
• swelling and slight tingling;
• itching and painful burning;
• the appearance of small vesicles two to three days after the first clinical signs of the disease;
• an increase in body temperature to subfebrile values ​​(with a complicated course of the disease).

After some time, the appearing bubbles open. In place of pimples, a wound appears, which after a while becomes covered with a crust. In no case should you try to remove it - this will only aggravate the situation and prolong the course of the disease, increase the severity of symptoms of herpes.

The most popular myths about the virus

This disease was known long before our era. But today, many are mistaken, talking about herpes. Most often, people mistakenly believe that:

• The disease is not contagious. In fact, herpes is transmitted, as a rule, by airborne droplets, by contact and sexually. The most common options for spreading the infection are during sneezing, talking, coughing, kissing, touching rashes. If a woman becomes infected with herpes during pregnancy, infection can lead to fetal death.
• Herpetic lesions on the lips are manifestations of a common cold. Not certainly in that way. The herpes virus is an independent infection that has nothing to do with the common cold. The thing is that hypothermia can provoke the appearance of rashes against the background of a weakening of the body's immune defense, which often results in the activation of the herpes virus and colds.
• Herpes passes along with rashes. Once infected, the infection remains there forever. Despite the absence of external manifestations, a person remains a carrier of the virus.

• The causes of herpes on the lips and genital rashes are the same. No, that is not true. On the lips, pathological vesicles cause the virus of the first type, and herpetic damage to the genitals is the result of infection with the virus of the second type. In addition, if we again turn to the table, we can see that the pathogenic microflora of HHF-1 and HHF-2 are located in different areas.
• Herpes is a disease that affects only the skin. The virus is able to penetrate into nerve cells, integrates into them, and as soon as the immune system begins to malfunction, it is rapidly developing. In severe cases, brain damage is possible, which can lead to death or paralysis. That is why herpes is especially dangerous during pregnancy.

Infection spread

Now let's talk about how herpes is transmitted. It is worth noting that all varieties of this virus are resistant to environmental factors. Herpes does not die at low temperatures, easily tolerates heat and feels great in water. But even if there is an infection in the environment, it is impossible to become infected with an illness. Infection occurs with close contact with the patient. There are three main ways of transmitting the virus:

• Tactile contacts. Any touch to the formed pimples guarantees infection. At this stage, the pathogenic microorganism is in the active phase, therefore, without much difficulty penetrates through damaged tissues or mucous membranes. Therefore, you can catch herpes during a kiss or oral sex.
• Airborne infection. The incubation period of the disease can last up to several months after the virus enters the body. Meanwhile, herpes will already be present in human saliva. Its amount is minimal, but if the interlocutor’s immunity is weakened, this is quite enough for infection.

• Household way. A person whose virus is in the active stage is dangerous to others. After treating the affected area, it is enough not to wash your hands with soap so that the germs spread on the surfaces of any objects that the patient touches.

Herpes on the body has a slightly different nature of origin. It is caused by chickenpox virus (HHV-3), which is transmitted by airborne droplets. Most often affects patients in childhood. After a disease, a person develops immunity, re-infection is excluded. However, if chickenpox infection occurs at a more mature age, the nature of the course of the disease will be more severe.

How to treat an infection on the lips

Among all types of virus, HHV-1 is better than the rest of the therapy. But before treating cold sores on the lips, it is important to consider some nuances:

• The effectiveness of therapeutic measures will depend on how timely they were started.
• During the treatment of rashes, it is important to exclude salty foods, spices and hot drinks from the diet.
• Therapy requires an integrated approach. Use antiseptic agents, external and systemic antiviral drugs, immunomodulators.

Dermatologists advise at the first manifestations of infection to treat the skin with antimicrobial solutions - “Furacilin”, “Chlorhexidine” or “Miramistin” - several times during the day. After disinfecting the surface, it is necessary to apply an ointment from herpes with antiviral activity. Among those available in pharmacy sales, it is worth noting:

• Florenal
• "Acyclovir";
• "Panavir";
• Zovirax
• Herpevir.

Active substances of local action penetrate directly into the cells affected by the infection. Herpes antiviral ointment interferes with the production of the DNA of the pathogen, making it impossible for its growth and reproduction. Drugs are applied to the skin or mucous membranes, rubbing slightly to ensure deep penetration of the components. After a few hours, swelling and pain become less pronounced, itching and burning disappear.

If herpetic eruptions began to occur more and more often, therapy is necessarily supplemented by taking pills. From herpes use:

• "Valacyclovir";
• "Acyclovir";
• Famciclovir.

The duration of treatment depends directly on the stage of the disease and the degree of complications. After conducting complex antiviral therapy, the patient is prescribed immunomodulating agents (Galavit, Viferon, Amiksin) to strengthen immunity and increase the body's resistance to pathogenic agents in order to prevent relapse. If a bacterial infection joins the affected areas, the use of local antibacterial agents (Levomekol, Tetracycline Ointment) will be required.

Principles of treatment for herpes type 2 and chickenpox

Unlike the previous treatment regimen, it is not so easy to get rid of herpes in the intimate zone and chicken pox. Infection of the type HHF-2 and HHF-3 is introduced into the human body for several weeks, therefore, only after the incubation period and in the presence of a favorable condition, the pathogen is activated. On the body or genitals, characteristic bubble rashes, puffiness occur. The symptoms of herpes cannot be overcome through the use of external drugs alone.

First of all, it will be necessary to establish the type of virus that caused herpetic lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. For this, laboratory studies are carried out. After confirming the type of herpes, the patient is prescribed antiviral agents with a wide spectrum of action - it is they that exhibit maximum activity to known types and strains of pathogenic microflora. Use the same pills for herpes as with HHF-1 - “Acyclovir”, “Valacyclovir”, “Famciclovir”.

In parallel with etiotropic treatment, the patient is prescribed drugs for topical application to herpetic blisters or erosion, covered with a crust - ointments "Acyclovir", "Bonafton", "Zovirax". Before treating genital herpes, it is important to pretreat the tissues with antiseptics. This will prevent the penetration into the wound sites of staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci.

At this stage of treatment, it may be relevant to use not only herpes drugs, but also drugs to eliminate the general symptoms. For example, with chickenpox in patients, body temperature often rises, weakness, general malaise are present. To alleviate the patient’s condition, NSAIDs (Nise, Nimesulide), Analgin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen are included in the treatment regimen.

At the end of the antiviral course, the next stage of treatment begins, aimed at restoring the body and immunity. For genital herpes and chickenpox, Lavomax is often used, a drug whose active component stimulates the production of interferons. Immune cells are produced primarily in hepatocytes and intestinal epithelium.

Therapy of a herpetic virus may also include the use of antihistamines, which help stop swelling and prevent the development of an allergic reaction while taking numerous medications. Among the effective anti-allergic drugs, doctors note Suprastin, Pipolfen, Tavegil, Loratadin. To stabilize the psycho-emotional background of patients who often have a hard time receiving news about their diagnosis of Genital Herpes, experts prescribe tranquilizers and antidepressants - Phenazepam, Deprim, Afobazol.

Herpes Vaccine

In the absence of relapse of a viral infection for 2-3 months, the patient is offered to receive vaccination. The medicine is administered subcutaneously, and an “orange peel” forms at the injection site. If the vaccine is not made during a period of persistent remission, the likelihood of recurrence of herpes symptoms is extremely high.

However, the vaccine can bring a number of serious consequences, one of which is the development of benign and cancerous formations. That is why most patients do not want to use a vaccine for herpes. It should be understood that the harm that a persistent infection can cause to the body can be much more serious than the harm from a vaccine.

Folk recipes

Herpes treatment at home can be carried out not only with the help of medicines prescribed by a doctor. There are many folk recipes that can also be used for herpetic lesions of the skin and mucous membranes on the body. They do not have side effects, but just in case, in order to avoid the unforeseen consequences of self-medication, it is better to consult a doctor. How to treat herpes? Further about the safest and most effective means:

• Egg. Two treatment options are popular. First: boil the egg hard, clean, put in a container and pour vodka. Put the egg and vodka in the refrigerator for three days, after which you need to eat the egg and drink vodka. Repeat the procedure over the next two days. The second option: the use of a film from an egg shell. It is applied to erosion by the sticky side and held until the ulcer begins to dry out.
• Tincture of calendula. Dry plant raw materials (usually flowers) are crushed and poured with 100 ml of vodka. The product should be infused for 10-14 days. Ready infusion rubbed into the wounds.
• Celandine. In freshly squeezed juice of the plant, moisten a cotton sponge or gauze dressing, then attach it to the sore spot. This alternative treatment for herpes is even suitable for use on the genitals. The compress is left overnight, the procedure is repeated for 5-7 days.
• Soda. In a glass of boiled water, dissolve 1 tbsp. l baking soda. Without allowing the solution to cool down much, a cotton pad is moistened in it and applied to the sore spot. A characteristic whitish film should appear on the rashes - you do not need to immediately wash it off. Hold the plaque on the skin for a while, then rinse with warm water.

• Essential oils. Bergamot and tea tree oil have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Therefore, their use for the treatment of herpes at home will give a positive result. Take 4-5 drops of oil and mix with 1 tsp. vodka. The resulting solution lubricates herpetic lesions on the lips, genitals. It also helps with chickenpox, but it is not recommended to use it to treat children without consulting a doctor.

A few words about prevention

Based on the fact that the herpes virus is present in the predominant part of the modern population, and for a long time it may not report about itself, it is important to know how to prevent the development of the disease. After all, it is known that the infection is actively manifested with weakened immunity. In order to prevent relapse, you need to follow simple rules:

• Timely treat ulcers and blisters on the lips, other parts of the body with antiviral agents.
• Avoid direct contact with herpes sufferers.
• After each treatment of rashes, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
• Apply "Miramistin" with regular sexual contacts.
• Maintaining immune functions with good nutrition.
• Take immunomodulators.
• Observe personal hygiene.