Herpes is an infectious disease provoked by the herpes simplex virus, affecting nerve cells and human integumentary tissues.
Causes of herpes
The main cause of this disease is infection with the herpes virus, which multiplies on the mucous membranes. Also, its reproduction is fixed on the skin. Infection with this virus can occur not only by contact, but also by airborne dust and airborne droplets. In practice, cases of mother-to-child transmission have also been recorded.
For quite long periods, the herpes virus can be dormant, manifesting itself only at the moment when the body’s defenses (the immune system) weaken. As a rule, this is a period of vitamin deficiency and colds.
Types of herpes
There are two main types of the virus of this disease:
The first type is usually transmitted by contact and affects the mucous membranes and skin of the eyes, nose, mouth.
The second type, transmitted during sexual intercourse, is genital herpes.
The reservoir of this infection is a person, either a patient or a carrier.
Symptoms of herpes
The incubation period of the disease can vary from 2 to 20 days. The initial stage of the disease can be both acute and gradual. If the patient did not pay due attention to the manifestation of the primary infection, then the disease acquires a recurrent form. Relapses can be recorded several times for a dozen years, or annually. They develop at the moment of weakening of the body’s immune system.
As a rule, the defeat of the herpes virus is noted on the wings of the nose and lips. At the initial stage, a person feels burning and itching of the affected area, then its compaction occurs and the formation of vesicles filled with transparent contents, which gradually becomes cloudy. Gradually, there is an independent opening of the bubbles, which causes shallow erosion, gradually the crusts heal, and completely disappear, without consequences.
With lesions of the mucous membrane of the herpes virus, recurrent or acute stomatitis occurs. At the same time, the patient may have a feverish state and general intoxication. Erosions in the oral cavity formed by vesicles heal over several weeks.
With genital herpes, both local inflammation (the formation of vesicles on the surface of the penis in men and on the vulva and labia in women) and general symptoms, in the form of intoxication and fever, manifest themselves.
Diagnosis of herpes
Diagnostic measures to detect this disease should be carried out using virological analysis. Determining the presence of a virus cannot provide a complete picture of the activity of the process.
As additional techniques are used:
PCR;
study of immunoglobulins;
RNIF.
Treatment of herpes
Since the clinical forms of this disease are quite diverse, a fairly significant number of specialists can be involved in their treatment.
venereologists and gynecologists treat genital herpes;
neurologists treat herpes infection.
The choice of therapy depends on the course and clinical form of the disease. Local treatment is prescribed in mild cases (external ointments).
For general treatment, antiviral drugs are prescribed in courses. The course of treatment for primary herpes is 10 days. With chronic recurrent herpes, the duration can vary from several months to a year. With generalized herpes, intravenous administration of antiviral drugs is prescribed. In case of recurrent herpes, immunostimulating therapy is performed.
The general therapy for the treatment of herpes infection includes: EHF, magnetotherapy, infrared irradiation, UFO, laser irradiation of blood, vaccination.
