Herpes, the love bug
Josey Vogels
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What you don't know about herpes may hurt you
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There's nothing like sitting around on a Saturday morning staring at floor-to-ceiling slides of herpes-infected genitals to start your weekend off right.But who can resist a seminar with a name like "What's new in herpes?"
Not me. Which is how I found myself at Toronto's Primary Care conference listening to Dr. Michael Silverman, director of infectious diseases at the Lakeridge Health Centre in Oshawa, tell me, well, what was new with herpes.
For example, did you know that of the estimated 20 per cent of adult Americans who have herpes simplex virus 2 (the herpes strain that causes genital herpes, as opposed to HSV-1, the strain that causes cold sores on the mouth), about 90 per cent don't even know they have it? (Widespread statistics for Canada aren't available, but at least one Alberta study produced similar stats.)
This is partly because, says Silverman, 60 to 90 per cent of those with herpes don't show symptoms, don't recognize the symptoms or are told it's something else.
Apparently, while most of us have been taught to look for blister-like lesions as a sign of herpes, additional symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions.
Like urinary tract infections. Or a latex allergy, razor burn or jock itch.
"A woman with a yeast infection will treat it and the symptoms will go away, reinforcing that was the problem," explains Silverman. "But if it's actually a herpes symptom, they often heal on their own after a few days anyway, so she wouldn't know the difference."
And,
if that's not complicated enough, even if symptoms do show up and are identifiable as herpes, have fun figuring out whether it's type 1 or 2, because type 1 can show up genitally, while type 2 can break out orally. But, if your primary outbreak is severe and obvious (for example, it hurts like hell, looks like a bomb went off on your face or genitals, you have a high fever and you're puking your guts up), chances are you've got the corresponding strain. If the first outbreak is less severe, it may be that it's genital herpes showing up for the first time on your face, or vice versa. And then it usually only happens once at this site. Subsequent outbreaks tend to stick to their designated region. They don't know why this is - it's just one of the many maddeningly complex things about the ironically named herpes simplex virus.
There's also the fact that 70 per cent of all transmissions happen with no visible symptoms. Meaning you can have it, not know it, and pass it along without ever knowing.
There is some good news: Testing for herpes is improving. Traditional herpes culture tests - done by swabbing an active lesion - require, well, an obvious lesion to swab. New blood antibody tests are more effective, but most doctors don't offer them so they aren't easily available, and the $150 cost isn't usually covered by medical insurance.
Before you all run out in a panic and start shelling out money to get tested, Silverman suggests you may wish to be tested if: 1) you have symptoms but haven't been able to get a diagnosis through a culture test; 2) you've been in contact with other sexually transmitted infections or have HIV; or 3) your partner has genital herpes and you're wondering if you may already have it. This is particularly important if a woman is pregnant and her partner has herpes, as acquiring herpes for the first time during pregnancy can cause things like blindness and mental illness in the baby.
And before you think your partner's a big old cheatin' ho because you suddenly get herpes after 10 years together, Silverman says there's an 8 per cent chance of transmission per year between monogamous partners not using condoms, making getting the virus a bit like Russian roulette.
"You can get it for the first time after 15 to 25 years with the same partner," he says.
And more good news: New antiviral drugs offer added protection and some welcome relief from the "I'll die alone" despair experienced by so many sufferers who worry their herpes will be a relationship killer.
Of course, adds Silverman, "while putting everyone on drugs would do wonders for the pharmaceutical companies, it's not practical."
Luckily, condom use alone can bring transmission rates down by an estimated 50 per cent. If one partner has repeated outbreaks, the combination of condom use and drug therapy can reduce transmission rates by 75 per cent.
Who knows? Armed with the proper information, improved diagnoses, prevention strategies and follow-up, one day, herpes may be old news.
A friends friends girlfriend ( for real ..it ain't me ) once got herpes the first time that she slept with a dude! As far as karma goes well I still hope that that asshole gets his good as what ought to have been a special time for her turned into a lifelong nightmare that she will have to deal with for the rest of her life. Imagine the whole freaking stupid thing of it all!!!!!
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Reuven De Souza
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{1 vote}
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Who's kidding who here? When it comes to STDs and STD symptoms we are all a bunch of ignorant gits. We *think* we know, we assume we know enough but c'mon, a casual conversation between friends will tell you that we really know jack all about anything besides the basics. Sadly, the only time we know for sure is when we've gone off and caught something.
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Pedro Eggers
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{7 votes}
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Herpes is really a rather confusing, not to mention stealthy STD. All the more reason that people take a proactive approach to their sexual health - check yourself out, excercise caution, and if you've contracted it then take all of the necessary precautions to ensure that you safeguard your health as well as that of your paramour(s).
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Mark St Pierre
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It's scary that 90 percent of people don't even know they have herpes. I think a way to prevent STD's like herpes from spreading is making people more aware about how serious it is and it can happen to anyone. I wasn't even sure exactly what herpes was until I read the article, I never even knew there were different types of herpes. Nobody likes to hear about STD's but the truth is, we need to hear about it. I think younger people believe that it can't happen to them, and the truth is, it does happen. A lot of times people I know hook up with other people and they don't even know their background. People still don't understand that even oral sex you can still get a STD. A way to reduce STD's from spreading is that it really should be talked about at schools. The earlier people know about Herpes the more prepared they will be.
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Chet Soni
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{1 vote}
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Everyone knows that Herpes is kinda old news now....i mean there are so many steps we have taken to improve people from getting "std" sick. Tests, condoms, regualr vistis to your doctor etc...But it is kinda scary that 90% of people don't know they even have it.
Kinda scary.
As long as people keep getting tested, even if they don't think they have anything, just to be on the safe side, the population may kill out the herpes outbursts.
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Sasha Elickus
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{8 votes}
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Ok, that's a staggering revelation - 90% of those that have herpes don't even know it!?! And considering the proponderence of misinformation about this condition and it's own insiduous nuances, this is actually not surprising. After having read this article, I'm actually dismayed by my own ignorance. Still, the onus is upon us to be vigilant in the face of this STD and, for those with it, proactive in the measures we take to minimise the risk of transmission...
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David St Pierre
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{15 votes}
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I had no idea you can still get herpes if you've been with the same person for years, what an eye-opener! I think that we need to get this information out to teens and young adults who think that if they're with one person, they'll never catch anything. Education is definately the best defense.
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Jennifer Carriere
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{5 votes}
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| The Gift that Keeps on Giving |
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Interesting piece this week, Mrs Vogels. I had a roommate who suffered with, ahem, "cold sores" off and on far too often for it to be just a mild infection. Fortunately, I did not like him very much and I learned a valuable lesson from seeing that volcano on his lips: Don't dive when you don't know how deep the water is! It is interesting that there are so many people out there who are unaware of the fact that they have this disease. Herpes should be treated no differently than diabetes or high cholesterol. Bringing it out the open is the only way to treat it. And my ex-roommate must feel the same way!
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Kendall Defoe
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{4 votes}
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It is too bad in this day and age that we still all have this conversation about this disease. You would think with all the technology and media out there about herpes, people would be more careful.
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Louise Lacroix
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