What is Herpes Simplex?
Herpes simplex is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), a filterable virus. There are generally two types:
Oral Herpes
When herpes simplex causes small fluid-filled blisters to appear around the mouth and lips or inside the mouth, which then burst and form scabs, this is known colloquially as a “cold sore” or “fever blister” and is referred to as oral herpes.
Genital Herpes
When herpes simplex appears on the genitals or surrounding areas, it is known as genital herpes, which can be classified as a sexually transmitted infection.
Recurrence of Herpes Simplex
Whether herpes simplex will recur varies from person to person. Some have high recurrence rates, while others may only have an outbreak every few years. Analysis suggests that when factors like illness, injury, fatigue, high stress, menstruation, sun exposure, or eating certain foods occur, the latent virus in the nerve ganglia can be triggered, causing it to travel back along the nerve paths to the skin surface, leading to a recurrent oral herpes outbreak.
Why Do I Get Oral Herpes?
Oral herpes is most commonly caused by vertical transmission from an infected mother, or during childhood when a parent with an active oral herpes lesion kisses their child, transmitting the virus through skin contact.
In the first infection, in addition to the site becoming sore or itchy before developing fluid-filled blisters, a sore throat, and mild fever, scabbing and healing typically occurs within four days.
After the first oral herpes infection, the herpes simplex virus penetrates the affected skin, traveling along the nerves to hide in the nerve ganglia where it resides for life. Therefore, no oral, injected, or topical medication can kill the virus hiding in the nerve ganglia, making it impossible to completely cure oral herpes.
What Should I Do If I Have Oral Herpes?
Oral herpes lesions are contagious until healed. If infected, follow these care guidelines:
Do not touch the blisters with your hands. If accidentally touched, immediately wash with soap to avoid spreading the virus to other body parts. Do not intentionally break the blisters or disturb newly formed scabs, as this will not speed healing and may cause the fingers to become infected or spread to other body areas, or lead to bacterial infection. Do not kiss anyone. Use separate dishes, towels, and do not share laundry with others.
What Should I Do If I Have Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is contracted through skin contact with the herpes virus during sexual activity, causing red, swollen, ulcerative blisters on the genitals, although some may not show any symptoms.
Care is similar to oral herpes. Do not engage in sexual activity, including oral and anal sex until fully healed, as using protection does not completely prevent viral transmission.
Recurrence of Genital Herpes
Like oral herpes, the genital herpes virus penetrates the skin and remains latent in the nerve ganglia for life, with some having high recurrence rates while others may only have an outbreak every few years. It cannot be completely cured.
Are There Better Treatment Methods for Herpes Simplex?
Like most viruses, there is still no cure for herpes simplex, but since the emergence of new drugs like acyclovir, they can shorten the course of the disease and improve the severity of lesions. Although outbreaks cannot be completely suppressed, the effects are much better than before. Famvir and Valtrex also have similar efficacy to acyclovir, but are rarely covered by health insurance.
What is Shingles?
Shingles, also known as “snake rash” or “flying snake rash”, is caused by the same filterable virus as chickenpox. When infected, fluid-filled blisters appear in a band-like pattern along the nerves on the skin, hence the name. The virus that causes shingles is different from the one that causes oral or genital herpes.
Why Do People Get Shingles?
Shingles is essentially a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. When the body’s immune system weakens due to factors like illness, aging, etc., the latent virus in the nerve ganglia can reactivate and travel along the nerves to the skin’s surface.
The rash most commonly appears on the torso, followed by the head, face, and limbs. Early symptoms include nerve pain, followed by clustered fluid-filled blisters forming over the area of nerve pain. From blister onset to scabbing takes about 5-10 days, with the rash changing from red to dark red before crusting over. It typically takes about a month to fully heal, potentially longer for older individuals.
Is Shingles Contagious?
Shingles itself is not directly contagious from person to person. However, the fluid from its blisters can potentially transmit the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox before, causing them to develop chickenpox, not shingles. Those who have already had chickenpox are not at risk of contracting it from someone with shingles. In general, shingles has about one-third the contagiousness of chickenpox.
What Should Be Noted When Treating Shingles?
Most cases of shingles resolve on their own within a month if there are no other complications or severe skin lesions. However, the following steps can help relieve discomfort and speed healing:
Do not intentionally rupture the blisters to avoid bacterial skin infections. No medication is needed if blisters are intact. If blisters rupture, do not apply herbal or over-the-counter medicine – use medicated ointments prescribed by a doctor to prevent infection and promote healing. If shingles affects the facial nerves above the neck, which may lead to blindness or deafness, see a specialist immediately to avoid sequelae. For those with severe immunodeficiency (like lupus, cancer patients), severe skin lesions, or disseminated blisters, dermatologists and other specialists should assess if antivirals like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir are needed. Neuralgia: About 40% of patients over 50 experience troubling neuralgia pain after healing. Severity varies, but if pain affects daily life, dermatologists can prescribe oral medications, injections, or recommend acupuncture for relief.
Skin Condition Note – Chickenpox
Chickenpox is caused by the same virus that causes shingles, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The typical incubation period is about 14 days, and it is highly contagious via respiratory droplets. However, one infection typically confers lifelong immunity, with shingles as the only potential reactivation later in life.
One or two days before the rash appears, there may be fever or malaise. The rash first presents as red spots that quickly develop into fluid-filled blisters, which can spread rapidly over the face and limbs, and sometimes affect the mouth and genitals. The clear blisters soon become pus-filled, crusting over in about 3-4 days. As long as there is no bacterial infection, scarring is usually minimal once the scabs fall off.
The severity of chickenpox symptoms varies by age and individual. Some cases are nearly asymptomatic aside from the rash, while others may experience high fever, headache, chills, and generalized malaise – adults tend to have more severe cases with more lesions.
If you want to know more, or want to browse more pictures, please click the video below: