What is the lifespan of genital herpes?

What is the lifespan of genital herpes?

The virus usually lives (in an inactive form) in an infected person throughout their lifetime. Most people (85%) with genital herpes will have recurring outbreaks – sometimes 6 to 10 a year. Recurrences are likely to have less severe symptoms and sores usually last a shorter period of time.

What is the prognosis of herpes simplex virus?

The mortality rate is approximately 70% in untreated patients and 19% in treated patients. Even after treatment, survivors have some neurologic impairment (impaired learning, dysnomia) noted upon detailed clinical cognitive testing.

Is genital herpes a life threatening disease?

Genital herpes can be painful, inconvenient, and upsetting, but it’s not considered a life-threatening condition. Even so, it may increase the risk of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because the sores are prime spots for HIV to get into the body.

Will herpes shorten my life?

Becoming infected with the herpes virus seriously complicates your social, emotional and sexual life, but it is not otherwise a terribly dangerous condition to have. Having genital herpes does make it easier to get HIV (and thus AIDS), but otherwise, the condition is not disabling, and does not reduce lifespan.

Do I have to take herpes medication forever?

Taking medication every day for many months will stop recurrences completely, or their frequency and severity are greatly reduced. This is called suppressive or prophylactic treatment. Generally, after a year, it is recommended you stop the medication for a few months to see if recurrences have become less frequent.

What happens if you take herpes medicine and you don’t have herpes?

Also, if you’re wondering if your uninfected partner can take Valtrex to avoid becoming affected, the answer is no. Someone without herpes simplex virus shouldn’t take medication for something they don’t have. This could cause serious side effects or health problems.

Will you definitely get herpes if you sleep with someone who has it?

Myth 2: If you sleep with someone who has the virus, you’ll get it too. Many people believe that if you have sex with someone with herpes, then you will definitely get herpes too – but this just isn’t the case.

For most people, herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are temporary and resolve without detrimental sequelae; however, recurrence is common. The associated pain, paresthesia, and discomfort, as well as the psychosocial impact, of herpes simplex outbreaks cause significant morbidity to the individuals who are affected.

Genital herpes is likely the most feared and least understood sexually transmitted infection (STI). There is no cure, so people infected with herpes have it forever. Though the virus is rarely life-threatening for most people with it, it’s extremely dangerous for pregnant women.