Herpes Care Guide: How to Treat and Manage This Common Virus

Brief overview

• Symptoms: Itching, burning, pain, the feeling of tension in the affected part of the body, then typical blister formation with fluid accumulation, later crust formation, in the case of initial infection also possible with general symptoms such as fever
• Causes and risk factors: Usually smear infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, often first infection as a child within the family, infection also possible through sexual intercourse, renewed herpes outbreaks often due to a weakened immune system
• Diagnosis: Depending on the affected part of the body, based on a visual diagnosis of the typical symptoms and laboratory tests
• Treatment: Can be treated with antiviral drugs ( virostatics ), shortened duration of illness, use of specific home remedies also possible in the case of a simple course of the disease
• Prognosis: Incurable, usually harmless course without scarring, duration of illness often shortened by antiviral drugs, severe courses are possible in immunodeficient cases or in newborns, some of which are life-threatening

Prevention: Initial infection: limited by hygiene measures (no shared cutlery, food, etc.) in the case of an acute herpes outbreak, limit close physical contact, reactivation: strong immune system important (healthy diet, exercise, enough sleep), no vaccination possible so far.

How contagious is herpes?

Herpes is an extremely contagious disease and is especially infectious when viruses are excreted, and fresh blisters are visible. The greatest risk of herpes infection comes from the fluid in the blisters, which contains a large number of viruses.

As soon as all the blisters have crusted over and no new ones appear, the risk of infection is already significantly lower. However, it is possible that the body will continue to excrete small amounts of viruses at this site for some time after the herpes crust has fallen off.

How does a herpes infection occur?

Herpes is primarily a viral infection. The first infection with herpes occurs from person to person, mainly through contact infection. This means that the herpes virus gets from the site of infection or from the saliva of an infected person to the mucous membranes of a healthy person – for example, through kissing or sexual intercourse.

In general, the risk of herpes transmission increases with close physical contact, so children, for example, sometimes become infected while playing.

Indirect infection between people or from one part of the body to another is also possible. If a sick person scratches the infected area, the herpes viruses get onto their hand and infect other parts of the body or people.

In addition, infection is also possible through objects such as used glasses. However, herpes requires moisture. If the herpes viruses dry out, they die. According to recent studies, it is possible for the herpes viruses to survive outside the body for up to 48 hours.

Since the saliva is also infected with viruses and is contagious when there is active herpes on the lips and mouth, the herpes viruses can even be transmitted via droplet infection when there is physical proximity. When we speak, tiny droplets of saliva are formed that travel short distances through the air and thus reach the mucous membranes of other people.

There is a period of about two to seven days between the first infection and the onset of symptoms (incubation period), although several weeks are also possible.

What is herpes?

Herpes on or in the nose , lips, face or genital area is caused by the contagious herpes simplex virus.

There are basically different herpes viruses that can cause very different illnesses in humans. However, “herpes” usually refers to the typical symptoms caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Doctors divide the viruses of the herpes simplex genus into type 1 and type 2, i.e. HSV-1 and HSV-2.