Treatment for genital herpes - what are the options?
Before going into the treatment options, here are some
tips for managing the symptoms of a genital herpes
infection:
- Urination can sometimes be painful, so drink plenty of liquids (preferably water) and it may be less painful to urinate in the bath.
- Apply an ice pack or bath in cool water.
- Take a mild pain reliever if needed.
- Keep the infected area clean and dry – lightly pat the area dry or even use a hairdryer.
- Wash bath towels and underwear frequently and wear loose clothing during outbreaks.
- Improve your immune system with a healthy lifestyle including a good diet with plenty of rest and try to lower the stress levels. This can help to reduce the outbreaks.
Several decades ago, herpes
treatment options for herpes included the direct
application of deoxyglucose or the actual removal
of infected areas by surgery. It was soon found that
the former option was ineffective while the latter
course often resulted in the spread of the herpes
along the scar which was left after the surgery. This
is not surprising considering how infectious the herpes
virus is.
Most people suffering from genital herpes can expect a recurrence about four times per year. One of the big problems is that infected people can keep on re-infecting themselves either on the skin area itself or from nerve cell to nerve cell and this is why it is so important to treat the symptoms of the herpes.
About fifteen years ago, anti-viral treatments for oral use first came on the market and studies indicated that these were safe and effective. Since then it has been found that this medication if taken on a daily basis can reduce recurrence frequency from approximately four times per annum to about once a year. Also when the recurrence does occur, the symptoms are milder and of shorter duration.
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