What is Herpes
What HSV Is and How to Deal With It
What is Herpes
Herpes is the most common virus world wide, affecting millions of people. (55 million in the U.S. alone) The disease is highly contagious. So What is Herpes Not? HSV is not a skin disease it’s a virus which affects the entire system.
There are at least nine viruses in the Herpies-family that cause infection in humans. In addition to HSV types 1 and 2, the other identified herpesviruses are: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), the virus that causes Chicken pox, and also Shingles; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes infectious mononucleosis; Cytomegalovirus (CMV); and Human-Herpes Viruses (HHV) types 6 and 7. Recently, HHV types 8 and 9 have been identified. These other herpesviruses cause their own set of signs and symptoms, and are different from the signs and symptoms of infection caused by the HSV viruses.
About Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 So what is herpes?
There are two Herpes Simplex viruses: Type 1 (HSV-1) better known as Oral Herpies and Type 2 (HSV-2) also known as Genital Herpies. The symptoms of hsv-1 are cold sores in the area of the mouth. The symptoms of hsv-2 are sores in the area of the genitals. Either may be spread by kissing or sexual contact, including oral sex.
Ever wondered how you got infected
As a child you probably had Chicken Pox which leaves you with the herpes varicella virus (a carrier), The virus can mutates to become herpes simplex HSV1 OR 2. i.e The HSV group of viruses usually appear in childhood when patients contracts chicken pox - a herpes virus. This can mutate to appear as shingles or the familiar cold sore or genital lesion.
i.e. Transmission is not always related to sexual contact. If you've had Chicken Pox then you are a carrier of Herpes Varicella which can mutate into HSV1 or 2.
After an attack the virus can disappear spontaneously or it can penetrate the basal ganglia in the brain and neural ganglia. When it does this, it attacks the lower oral lip or the labia majoris at the opening of the vagina (HSV I and II).
In cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies that protects you are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected, not necessarily by sexual contact, but also by droplet infection (a infected person coughing or sneezing at you), infected paper money or even toilet door handles. I repeat, sexual contact is not necessarily the only way to get herpes.
There is also the problem that The Institute of Virology states that up to 80% of the population (55 million in the USA alone) are carriers of the virus (asymptomatic carriers). These people may not show symptoms themselves but can spread the virus. Therefore you can infect yourself by having sexual relations with a person that is a asymptomatic carrier. Like all STD's both partners in a relationship must be treated at the same time.
What HSV Is and How to Deal With It
What is Herpes
Herpes is the most common virus world wide, affecting millions of people. (55 million in the U.S. alone) The disease is highly contagious. So What is Herpes Not? HSV is not a skin disease it’s a virus which affects the entire system.
There are at least nine viruses in the Herpies-family that cause infection in humans. In addition to HSV types 1 and 2, the other identified herpesviruses are: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), the virus that causes Chicken pox, and also Shingles; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes infectious mononucleosis; Cytomegalovirus (CMV); and Human-Herpes Viruses (HHV) types 6 and 7. Recently, HHV types 8 and 9 have been identified. These other herpesviruses cause their own set of signs and symptoms, and are different from the signs and symptoms of infection caused by the HSV viruses.
About Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 So what is herpes?
There are two Herpes Simplex viruses: Type 1 (HSV-1) better known as Oral Herpies and Type 2 (HSV-2) also known as Genital Herpies. The symptoms of hsv-1 are cold sores in the area of the mouth. The symptoms of hsv-2 are sores in the area of the genitals. Either may be spread by kissing or sexual contact, including oral sex.
Ever wondered how you got infected
As a child you probably had Chicken Pox which leaves you with the herpes varicella virus (a carrier), The virus can mutates to become herpes simplex HSV1 OR 2. i.e The HSV group of viruses usually appear in childhood when patients contracts chicken pox - a herpes virus. This can mutate to appear as shingles or the familiar cold sore or genital lesion.
i.e. Transmission is not always related to sexual contact. If you've had Chicken Pox then you are a carrier of Herpes Varicella which can mutate into HSV1 or 2.
After an attack the virus can disappear spontaneously or it can penetrate the basal ganglia in the brain and neural ganglia. When it does this, it attacks the lower oral lip or the labia majoris at the opening of the vagina (HSV I and II).
In cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies that protects you are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected, not necessarily by sexual contact, but also by droplet infection (a infected person coughing or sneezing at you), infected paper money or even toilet door handles. I repeat, sexual contact is not necessarily the only way to get herpes.
There is also the problem that The Institute of Virology states that up to 80% of the population (55 million in the USA alone) are carriers of the virus (asymptomatic carriers). These people may not show symptoms themselves but can spread the virus. Therefore you can infect yourself by having sexual relations with a person that is a asymptomatic carrier. Like all STD's both partners in a relationship must be treated at the same time.
Testing & Diagnosing Herpes
Diagnostic herpes tests (Testing For Shingles, Genital and Oral Herpes) About Herpes tests: I am continuously asked by people about testing for genital and oral herpes, as well as what the various tests mean regarding both oral and genital herpes.
Initially: The IgG/IgM Elisa herpes tests The only valid blood test for the diagnosis of herpes is the IgG/IgM (Elisa) blood test. If you examine your test results you'll see the letters IgM and IgG. If the IgM is positive it means that the infection is active.
If IgM is negative and IgG is positive, it means that you have developed sufficient antibodies to put the virus into remission. i.e. The IgG/IgM test will tell you whether you have a current infection or residual antibodies from a previous infection.
Unfortunately people don't retain antibodies for life, if they did then they wouldn't have these repeated outbreaks. The cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected.
The length of time that antibodies remain in the blood varies greatly from one person to another. Factors to be considered are repeated exposure to the virus, stress, even unrelated diseases which can affect the body's immune system.
With the standard IgM/IgG (Elisa) herpes tests, if the treatment was successful the result will be IgM negative IgG positive as there will still be antibodies in the blood.
"Can you ever produce a negative herpes tests result again?" The answer is yes, if you take the test no sooner than 90 days after completion. We found that 90 days is the normal time frame it takes for the immune system to change and the antibodies to return to normal. If the treatment was successful it shouldn't be possible to transmit the disease no.
Afterwards: The PCR DNA Herpes tests
A newer "gold standard" is even more sensitive than the standard blood test. This test is called the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) DNA test, (Done from spinal fluid) and it can identify the DNA from viral particles to an extremely high degree of accuracy and can differentiate between the two types. This test directly reveals the presence or not of viral DNA of either type of virus.
The standard IgM/IgG blood test cant tell if viral DNA is present or not because herpes, cytomegalovirus and the coxsackie viruses are not present in blood in their latent stages, only a PCR DNA test can.
Let me put it to you this way: If the treatment was successful the PCR DNA test (done on spinal fluid) result will be negative indicating that no viral DNA could be detected. The PCR tracks viral DNA. The absence of viral DNA means no Virus = no Disease no Outbreaks. Cured!
You will not experience any outbreaks at all unless you are reinfected somehow. In cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies that protects you are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected, not necessarily by sexual contact, but also by droplet infection (an infected person coughing or sneezing at you) infected paper money or even toilet and door handles. As +- 80% of the population is thought to be infected it is easy to see how reinfection can happen.
To satisfy yourself that you are free from the disease you have a P.C.R. DNA Herpes test which detects viral DNA. These PCR herpes tests are almost 300% more sensitive in picking up actual viral material from spinal fluid than was the viral culture. a P.C.R DNA test is taken at any time following completion of treatment.
The ultimate test is PCR of spinal fluid, it is the most accurate test for viruses in existence to detect viral DNA. The PCR test can be done on blood but it is uncertain, more reliable on spinal fluid where the virus hides between outbreaks. The PCR DNA test tracks viral DNA and can find herpes simplex virus even when no symptoms are present. The PCR tracks Viral DNA. Absence of DNA means no Virus.
When PCR is negative it means that no viral DNA could be detected. i.e. No viral DNA means no virus, therefore no disease. Cured if you like. And what's more you cannot transmit a disease that no longer exists in your body.
Sadly, in some countries the PCR DNA test is not routinely available to the clinician in the office at this time. However if your doctor has the ability to perform PCR DNA testing for herpes simplex, ask for that instead of a Standard Blood Test.
Diagnostic herpes tests (Testing For Shingles, Genital and Oral Herpes) About Herpes tests: I am continuously asked by people about testing for genital and oral herpes, as well as what the various tests mean regarding both oral and genital herpes.
Initially: The IgG/IgM Elisa herpes tests The only valid blood test for the diagnosis of herpes is the IgG/IgM (Elisa) blood test. If you examine your test results you'll see the letters IgM and IgG. If the IgM is positive it means that the infection is active.
If IgM is negative and IgG is positive, it means that you have developed sufficient antibodies to put the virus into remission. i.e. The IgG/IgM test will tell you whether you have a current infection or residual antibodies from a previous infection.
Unfortunately people don't retain antibodies for life, if they did then they wouldn't have these repeated outbreaks. The cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected.
The length of time that antibodies remain in the blood varies greatly from one person to another. Factors to be considered are repeated exposure to the virus, stress, even unrelated diseases which can affect the body's immune system.
With the standard IgM/IgG (Elisa) herpes tests, if the treatment was successful the result will be IgM negative IgG positive as there will still be antibodies in the blood.
"Can you ever produce a negative herpes tests result again?" The answer is yes, if you take the test no sooner than 90 days after completion. We found that 90 days is the normal time frame it takes for the immune system to change and the antibodies to return to normal. If the treatment was successful it shouldn't be possible to transmit the disease no.
Afterwards: The PCR DNA Herpes tests
A newer "gold standard" is even more sensitive than the standard blood test. This test is called the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) DNA test, (Done from spinal fluid) and it can identify the DNA from viral particles to an extremely high degree of accuracy and can differentiate between the two types. This test directly reveals the presence or not of viral DNA of either type of virus.
The standard IgM/IgG blood test cant tell if viral DNA is present or not because herpes, cytomegalovirus and the coxsackie viruses are not present in blood in their latent stages, only a PCR DNA test can.
Let me put it to you this way: If the treatment was successful the PCR DNA test (done on spinal fluid) result will be negative indicating that no viral DNA could be detected. The PCR tracks viral DNA. The absence of viral DNA means no Virus = no Disease no Outbreaks. Cured!
You will not experience any outbreaks at all unless you are reinfected somehow. In cases where the virus has been destroyed in the body, the antibodies that protects you are only active for a short time and then the patient can easily be reinfected, not necessarily by sexual contact, but also by droplet infection (an infected person coughing or sneezing at you) infected paper money or even toilet and door handles. As +- 80% of the population is thought to be infected it is easy to see how reinfection can happen.
To satisfy yourself that you are free from the disease you have a P.C.R. DNA Herpes test which detects viral DNA. These PCR herpes tests are almost 300% more sensitive in picking up actual viral material from spinal fluid than was the viral culture. a P.C.R DNA test is taken at any time following completion of treatment.
The ultimate test is PCR of spinal fluid, it is the most accurate test for viruses in existence to detect viral DNA. The PCR test can be done on blood but it is uncertain, more reliable on spinal fluid where the virus hides between outbreaks. The PCR DNA test tracks viral DNA and can find herpes simplex virus even when no symptoms are present. The PCR tracks Viral DNA. Absence of DNA means no Virus.
When PCR is negative it means that no viral DNA could be detected. i.e. No viral DNA means no virus, therefore no disease. Cured if you like. And what's more you cannot transmit a disease that no longer exists in your body.
Sadly, in some countries the PCR DNA test is not routinely available to the clinician in the office at this time. However if your doctor has the ability to perform PCR DNA testing for herpes simplex, ask for that instead of a Standard Blood Test.
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