Archive for April, 2008

Introduction to blood tests

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Blood tests can be used when a person has no visible symptoms but has concerns about having herpes.  Blood tests do not actually detect the virus; instead, they look for antibodies (the body's immune response) in the blood. IgM vs. IgG There are many older blood tests commercially available, but most ...

Testing with symptoms: viral culture

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

If symptoms of herpes appear, they can vary widely from person to person. If a person does experience signs of infection, we recommend obtaining a culture test (a swab from the symptom) within the first 48 hours after a lesion appears. Results are usually available in about a week's ...

Signs & Symptoms – When, What, Where, and How

Monday, April 28th, 2008

While some people realize that they have genital herpes, many do not. It is estimated that one in five persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus. This is because many ...

Herpes and pregnancy

Sunday, April 27th, 2008

Did you know: It is rare for infants to contract herpes. Twenty percent to 25 percent of pregnant women have genital herpes. Less than 0.1 percent of babies contract genital herpes. A mother helps the baby by passing her antibodies to the infant during pregnancy. Women who acquire genital herpes before becoming pregnant have a ...

Treatment overview

Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Currently, there is no treatment to cure herpes; however, there are medications to treat symptoms and control outbreaks. Three antiviral medications (in pill form) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of herpes: Zovirax® (acyclovir), Famvir® (famciclovir), and Valtrex® (valacyclovir). All of these medications, which ...