Quite often, both men and women face such an unpleasant phenomenon as recurrent or chronic herpes. The name of the disease is due to the fact that after the treatment, a herpetic rash appears again. And most often the cause of relapse is a weakening of the human immune system.
In the genital form, herpes is able to have a negative effect on the reproductive system of women, as well as on the developing fetus during pregnancy. In the article we will consider the treatment regimen for recurrent herpes.
Description and Features
Relapsing herpes is a viral disease that affects the mucous membranes and skin of a person. The causative agent of the infection is the herpes simplex virus. Pathology acquires a chronic form of the course against the background of a lack of treatment, as well as a weakening of the protective qualities of the body.
At risk are patients experiencing problems with immunity. The herpes virus is one of the most common diseases on the planet. More than 90% of the population are carriers of pathogenic pathogens. In this case, the manifestation of symptoms is inherent in only a small part of the infected. With age, the probability of infection with the virus increases to 40-50%.
Specialists distinguish genital herpes and a simple form of the disease. In both cases, the causative agents of the pathology is the herpes simplex virus of the first or second type. The skin on the face, internal genital organs and external genitalia are affected. Relapsing herpes is said to be with repeated manifestation of the signs of the virus.
Three degrees of severity of the infection are distinguished:
- With a mild form, the virus appears several times a year.
- With moderate severity, the number of relapses can reach six times a year.
- Severe cases are characterized by a relapse every month.
Forms
Several forms of recurrent genital herpes are distinguished. The main ones are the following:
- latent;
- subclinical;
- macrosymptomatic;
- abortive.
Reclining subclinical genital herpes is not accompanied by severe symptoms. Patients complain only of slight itching and cracks in the affected area.
Macrosymptomatic form is accompanied by pain and severe itching in the perineum.
The latent form of herpes is especially dangerous because it can spread throughout the body. At the same time, patients are unaware of the fact that they are contagious and can infect their sexual partner.
Causes
Herpes recurrent does not occur for any specific reason. So, the virus can enter the body in childhood and be in an inactive state until favorable conditions appear.
But at the same time, the disease is highly contagious. The virus can penetrate the body through contact with an infected or airborne droplet. The defeat of the genital herpes species in adulthood occurs during unprotected intercourse with a virus carrier.
What are the causes of frequent cold sores on the lips?
The likelihood of contracting the virus increases as much as possible during its exacerbation. Pathological cells penetrate into the tissues of the nerves, where they can exist for many years, not manifesting themselves externally. A decrease in immunity leads to the activation of the virus and the appearance of a characteristic rash.
Cells after activation begin to multiply. Modern medical science distinguishes the following causes of the appearance of a relapsing form of herpes:
- Decrease in the immune qualities of the body.
- Drug use.
- Alcoholism in a chronic form.
- Direct contact with an infected person.
- The use of other people's personal items.
- Frequent change of sexual partners.
- Prostitution.
- Hypothermia of the body.
- AIDS or HIV.
As a rule, the chronic form of the virus is inherent in certain categories of patients. The most common recurrent herpes appears in homeless people, prostitutes, drug addicts, homosexuals and alcoholics. Also, the disease can be detected in patients who have undergone a major operation or underwent a course of radiation therapy.
The manifestation of symptoms of herpes can be directly determined by the nature of the person.
Provocative factors
Risk factors for the development of recurrent herpes include:
- hypothermia of the body;
- insufficient intake of vitamins and proteins;
- poor living conditions;
- non-observance of personal hygiene rules, including intimate ones;
- stress state;
- overwork;
- night work;
- insufficient hardening of the body;
- physical inactivity;
- abortion;
- taking systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.
Frequent appearance of a herpetic rash on the face may indicate constant contact with an infected person. The virus is easily transmitted by kisses. In addition, the occurrence of recurrent herpes on the lips may be associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Herpes simplex: symptoms
The most common is a simple or labial type of virus. Recurrent herpes is manifested by less severe symptoms than in acute form. And the main indicator of herpes infection is the appearance of a characteristic rash on the lips. Rashes are in the form of vesicles or vesicles.
Features of herpetic rash are as follows:
- The size of the bubbles is not more than three millimeters.
- The presence of itching and burning in the area of the appearance of the rash.
- Swelling at the site of the appearance of the vesicle.
- Bubbles are localized mainly in the nose and mouth.
- There is fluid inside the vesicles.
- After 5-7 days, the bubbles burst and dry.
- The vesicles are not located singly, but in small groups.
- The affected area turns red.
In recurrent form, one or two foci of herpetic rash are observed. And a few days after the appearance of the bubbles, the liquid contained in them becomes cloudy.
The onset of the pathological process is accompanied by itching and burning. Sometimes there is a slight soreness of the affected area of the skin. The appearance of a rash does not affect the patient’s general health. Over a week, the contents of the bubbles flow out, and crusts form in their place.
Crust shape
The shape of the crusts is irregular, bright red. Their education is accompanied by soreness. Further, a yellow coating appears on erosion. If the rash appears around the lips, then most likely hemorrhagic crusts form here.
Sometimes, against the background of relapse, swelling of the regional lymph nodes is noted. And after the crusts have left, barely noticeable pigmentation remains in their place, which passes after a few days. Herpetic rash leaves no scars.
On the lips
Quite often, the virus appears on the mucous membrane of the mouth. In this case, the rash affects the gums, palate and cheeks. If herpes is repeatedly localized in one place, we can talk about a fixed form of pathology. Some patients note that relapses occur only at certain times of the year.
In childhood, the chronic type of herpes can cause stomatitis.
Consider how herpes manifests itself in the intimate zone in men and women.
Genital herpes: symptoms and course
When a herpetic rash is localized in the genital area, it is a recurrent sexual type of disease. Relapse is characteristic for 50-70% of cases of a previous illness.
The forms of the pathological process can be characterized as monotonous, arrhythmic and subsiding.
If a herpetic rash on the genitals appears frequently and the remission phases practically do not change, we can talk about the monotonous form of the course of the virus.
With an arrhythmic form, the intervals between the phases of remission are always different. The rash may appear every two weeks or be absent for several months. The longer the symptoms of herpes in the intimate area in women and men did not appear, the more intense and extensive the rashes will be.
The most favorable course in the subsiding form of the disease. In this case, the phases of remission become longer, and the number and severity of symptoms during relapse is reduced.
It is important not only to understand the causes of the manifestation of herpes in the intimate area in men and women, but also to know the consequences of such symptoms. Despite the fact that the relapsing form has less severe symptoms, it poses a greater danger to human health than the primary lesion. When the rash appears quite often, it can cause difficulties in the genital area, disturb sleep, cause irritability and even lead to a state of depression.
Quite often, genital herpes also leads to difficulty in performing movements. In general, a relapsing form of herpes can cause serious consequences. In particular, the disease can cause the following complications:
- gingivitis;
- cystitis;
- urethritis;
- stomatitis;
- vulvovaginitis;
- colpitis;
- lymphadenopathy;
- prostatitis.
Infertility risk
All of these diseases appear if you do not treat the symptoms of herpes in the intimate zone in women and men in a timely manner and do not engage in strengthening the immune system. Against the background of constant relapses of genital herpes, the patient may develop infertility. If a woman is not treated during the period of bearing the child, then the probability of involuntary abortion or intrauterine infection of the fetus increases. In any case, the consequences can be fatal.
Diagnostics
Before you eliminate the herpetic rash, you should undergo a simple examination. If herpes is localized in the genital area, you should visit a gynecologist or urologist. The specialist prescribes the following studies for suspected genius herpes:
- Laboratory study of scraping.
- Enzyme immunoassay.
- A study for the presence of other sexually transmitted pathologies.
- Cytological examination of the contents of the vesicles.
- Polymerase chain reaction assay.
- General blood test.
The differential diagnosis of chronic recurrent herpes is important.
Before starting therapy, you should also isolate the virus, that is, determine its type. For this, a PCR study is performed. If specific antibodies are detected in the blood, the diagnosis is confirmed. To determine the likely causes of herpes recurrence, a comprehensive examination is carried out, including an HIV test. The specialist conducts differential diagnostics to exclude syphilis, pemphigus and exudative erythema multiforme type.
Treatment
Many are interested in how to smear herpes. Yes, uncomplicated forms of pathology are treated at home. And the main directions of treatment of recurrent genital herpes, as well as simple, is to reduce the frequency of repetitions and the maximum possible prolongation of the period of remission.
It is possible to achieve the objectives with the help of antiviral drugs of systemic action, as well as by increasing the protective qualities of the body. The appearance of a herpetic rash indicates the need for treatment of the cause of the recurrence of the disease.
Preparations
Based on the foregoing, only a specialist can correctly answer the question of how to smear herpes. The most affordable and common at the same time are drugs that include acyclovir. Equally effective are the derivatives of this component in the form of valaciclovir and famciclovir.
The following agents are used to reduce the activity of the herpes virus:
- Zovirax
- Valtrex
- Valtsikon;
- "Panavir";
- Valvir
- Famacivir, etc.
Taking these drugs in a course will reduce the number of herpes relapses. And to speed up the healing process, the doctor prescribes drugs for local use. It can be various ointments and gels. Herperax, for example, is one of the most sought after in this group.
Immunity increase
Each dermatovenerologist considers an increase in immunity an obligatory point of treatment for recurrent forms of herpes. For this purpose, therapy is carried out with immunostimulants, such as Neovir, Amiksin, Cycloferon, etc.
In addition, quite often, such drugs as Tiloram, Lavomax, Tilaxin and other drugs that contribute to the synthesis of antibodies and increase the immune qualities of the whole organism are included in the treatment of recurrent herpes. If herpetic eruptions are accompanied by soreness and severe inflammation, Nimesil is prescribed.
Conclusion
Patients with frequent relapses of herpes are recommended to spend more time in the fresh air, take vitamin complexes, as well as play sports and eat right. Constant exacerbations of the disease can indicate the presence of serious diseases, including cancer. This condition requires a thorough examination. Timely therapy can help reduce the number of relapses and even achieve a stable remission.