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Nine misconceptions about herpes

August 30, 2007

The number of people with the common cold core, usually present on and around the lips, tends to increase as temperatures drop outside. Indeed, oral herpes is quite common. There is no air of mystery about it. However, an average patient does not seem to be very knowledgeable about the disease.

“Well, it looks like small blisters occurring on the lips,” one would say. The more initiated (and the former sufferers) would also mention genital herpes. However, just a handful may be aware of a close relationship between the two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Below are some of the most typical myths about oral and genital herpes infections.

Myth No 1: Cold sore is a not contagious disease

On the contrary, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are also transmitted by direct contact (sexual activities, kissing, touching or/and from objects such as shared drinking glasses, lipstick, toothbrushes etc.) The genital herpes infection can pose a particular threat to newborns who may be infected during passage through the birth canal. The risk is particularly high if the mother was infected with HSV-2 during the third trimester of a pregnancy. In this case, the mother’s body lacks protective antibodies that would otherwise reduce virus shedding to the infant.

Myth No 2: Oral herpes infection indicates a cold sore

In actuality, oral herpes infection is an illness caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or HSV-1. The virus infection usually reactivates in case of hypothermia. Physical and psychological stress, anxiety, and intercurrent upper respiratory viral infections can also cause outbreaks of oral herpes.

Myth No 3: Common cold will soon be gone if oral herpes lesions appear on the lips

A widespread assertion that is fundamentally wrong. The occurrence of cold cores or fever blisters on the lips indicates that a respiratory infection has disrupted the immune system’s ability to keep the disease with the nerve ganglia.

Myth No 4: Herpes infection will be gone for good once lesions heal

Discount Pharmacy - Buy Pharmacy at discount prices including free shipping.Discount Pharmacy provides confortable and easy way to order discount pharmacy online.It would be great if the story had a happy ending but things are different in case of herpes infections. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 travel to sensory nerves after initial infection. After reaching their respective sensory nerves, they reside there as life-long, latent viruses. It is impossible to root out the viruses from the body. However, certain measures can be taken to keep the viruses from causing symptomatic disease. It is believed that 95 percent of adults have oral herpes. Though the majority of the carriers become infected at age 3-4, only 20 percent of them will experience recurrent outbreaks of orolabial herpes.

Myth No 5: One may transmit HSV-1 infection only when there is an outbreak of cold sores

In fact, the risk of spreading the virus infection is higher when a cluster of fluid-filled blisters appear once the virus reactivates. However, the virus infection can be transmitted at any moment though microscopic injuries to the skin or mucous membranes.

Myth No 6: Oral herpes and genital herpes differ from each other in terms of disease classification. Herpes infections cannot be spread via oral sex.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 are members of the same virus subfamily. HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus type 1 is usually the cause of common non-sexually transmitted cold sores, which can also be spread to genitals though oral sex. Likewise, HSV-2 (usually the cause of genital herpes) can also be spread to the oral area, although the occurrence of this is thought to be quite rare.

Myth No 7: Condoms are completely effective in preventing the spread of genital herpes

Condoms have been shown to be an effective means of decreasing the risk of HSV-2 infection. On the other hand, condoms may not provide complete protection. The virus can be transmitted by skin contact with other unprotected regions of the body. It can also be transmitted if condoms are of poor quality or used inappropriately

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Does stress trigger herpes?

August 26, 2007

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Genital herpes associated with higher genital and plasma HIV viral load in women

August 23, 2007

Being infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 increases the risk of HIV infection by as much as eightfold but exactly how much the presence of acute HSV-2 symptoms, particularly genital ulcers, increases the risk of transmissibility is less clear.

One study in HIV-serodiscordant couples in Uganda reported that if the HIV-infected partner also had genital ulcers then the risk of HIV transmission was increased fourfold. But it was not clear in that study whether the ulcers were caused by HSV-2, although the virus is the most common cause of genital ulcer diseases.

The authors of this new study have analysed the effect of having genital HSV ulceration on HIV levels in the plasma and cervicovaginal fluid of 441 women in Ghana and the Central African Republic. The women are taking part in a study to find out how giving treatment for the HSV infection affects HIV and HSV shedding and the analysis was carried out before treatment started.

Of the 441 women studied, 79% were HSV-2 infected, 46.6% were HIV-positive and 50% had a HSV-2-related ulcer at the time of study. Ulcers were more likely among younger women, probably reflecting a more recent infection, and among HIV-infected women, especially those who showed signs of immunosuppression.

Among the 180 women infected with both HIV and HSV-2, cervicovaginal HIV was detected in 68% of those who had a HSV-2 ulcer, compared to 42% of those who did not (p = 0.004). On average, women with genital HSV-2 ulcers had higher average cervicovaginal HIV RNA loads (3.14 log₁₀ copies/ml versus 2.10 log₁₀ copies/ml; p = 0.003).

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They also had higher average plasma HIV loads (5.10 versus 4.65 log₁₀ copies/ml; p = 0.07, although this difference was not statistically significant) and lower CD4 cell counts (198 versus 409 cells/mm³, p = 0.03). A tenfold increase in cervicovaginal HSV-2 DNA was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in plasma HIV (p = 0.003).

The authors say this is the largest recorded series of patients with genital ulcers in west and central Africa and shows that clinical episodes of genital herpes are associated with increased cervicovaginal and plasma HIV loads.

The results emphasise the interaction between the two viruses and highlight the role of HSV-2 as an important co-factor for HIV transmission, they conclude.

However, several recent studies which have investigated the HIV prevention benefits of HSV-2 suppressive therapy have shown varying degrees of risk reduction when either valaciclovir or aciclovir were used. Valaciclovir reduced genital HIV shedding in HIV-positive women in a randomised study carried out in Burkina Faso, but a Thai study using aciclovir resulted in more modest reductions in genital HIV shedding, while a South African study showed no significant reduction in HIV shedding whatsoever in women who received aciclovir.

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Concern in Oregon Over Equine Herpes Virus Prompts Informational Seminar

August 19, 2007

(CORVALLIS, Ore. ) - A horse suspected of having a highly contagious respiratory virus called Equine Herpes Virus-1 was treated at the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Oregon State University and though results of the tests were inconclusive, numerous Oregon horse owners have called OSU seeking more information.

OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine will hold a free public informational seminar on Equine Herpes Virus-1 on Wednesday, Aug. 15th, in Magruder Hall Room 102 beginning at 7:00 PM.

Magruder Hall is located on 30th Street just south of Washington Way in Corvallis.

John Schlipf, a large animal internist with the college, will present basic information about EHV-1 and will team with fellow OSU veterinarians Anna Firshman, Erica McKenzie, Jaime Hustace and Katelyn Romeo to answer questions.

Earlier this year, an Oregon horse was confirmed with EHV-1, which can cause paralysis and abortions in pregnant horses.

State Veterinarian Don Hansen issued a recent alert urging caution by horse owners after five horses in Washington also exhibited clinical signs consistent with the virus.

Schlipf, who specializes in equine physiology and disease, says Equine Herpes Virus-1 is “something to be conscious of, but not go into a panic over.”

“It is highly contagious, but it doesn’t last long in the environment,” Schlipf said. “Horse owners can apply a little common sense and drastically reduce the chances of EHV-1 infecting their animals. It has been seen more commonly in other states – like Ohio and California – recently, but hasn’t seemed to take a foothold in Oregon.”

The virus is not known to have a harmful impact on humans.

Equine Herpes Virus-1 is a virus that most commonly manifests as a respiratory disease in horses and is not necessarily serious, Schlipf said.

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However, through genetic mutation, it can cause a neurological form that can be life-threatening to horses.

In its neurological form, which may be brought on by stress, EHV-1 causes injury to blood vessels, cutting off the supply of blood to areas of the spinal cord.

“It can end the athletic career of a horse,” Schlipf pointed out.

A nasal discharge is one sign of the virus, but a nasal discharge may also result from other viruses and allergies, just as in humans. Fever, malaise and nasal discharge are common clinical signs of EHV-1 infection.

Transmitted by aerosol, EHV-1 can move from horse to horse through transferal of nasal secretions.

Horses nuzzling each other, or nuzzling humans who then touch other horses, can spread the disease.

However, the virus doesn’t last long in the environment, researchers say.

Schlipf says concerned horse owners can do several things to ease their concerns:

• Monitor temperatures of horses and look for prolonged fevers

• Limit contact of horses with others from fairs and shows

• Be aware that humans can spread the virus to horses through contact with infected horses

• Isolate horses that have fevers and nasal discharge from other horses

• Consider isolating horses that compete in shows from other horses

The horse tested at OSU, which came from the Willamette Valley, showed clinical signs of EHV-1 but laboratory technicians never recovered the virus during a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. An Oregon horse tested in the spring was found to have had the disease.

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Drugs can lower risk of genital herpes recurrence

August 18, 2007

The effectiveness of oral antiviral drugs, commonly used to prevent genital herpes outbreaks in infected patients, has been confirmed by a review of published studies.The researchers evaluated acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, sold under the trade names Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir, respectively, in a “meta-analysis,” a review strategy in which the results of several published trials are analyzed to obtain information from a larger total number of patients, which provides the ability to draw more statistically significant conclusions.

Although the use of these drugs to prevent herpes outbreaks began in the early 1980s, the present study is the first meta-analysis to examine their effectiveness compared with placebo, note Dr. Benedicte Lebrun-Vignes, from Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere in Paris, and colleagues in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Discount Pharmacy - Buy Pharmacy at discount prices including free shipping.Discount Pharmacy provides confortable and easy way to order discount pharmacy online.Their review included 14 clinical trials with a total of 6,158 patients with sound immune systems and who were not pregnant. (The drugs should never be taken during pregnancy because they can cause birth defects.)

The investigators found that patients who were given one of the three drugs were 47-percent less likely to experience a genital herpes recurrence than those given placebo, the report indicates.

The three agents tested were generally comparable in efficacy. The best regimens for preventing a recurrence were acyclovir 400 mg, valacyclovir 250 mg, or famciclovir 250 mg — all given twice daily — or valacyclovir 500 mg given once daily.

Lebrun-Vignes and associates conclude that all three drugs are suitable treatments for preventing genital herpes outbreaks. However, the authors emphasize the importance of monitoring patients for the possible emergence of drug resistance in patients who do not respond to the standard regimens.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. August 2007.

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Jessica Alba May Have Caught Herpes from Derek Jeter!

August 10, 2007

Glittery baubles, expensive dinners and sappy endearments weren’t the only surprises Derek Jeter bestowed on his ex-girlfriend Jessica Alba – he also gave her herpes. Or so the rumor mill says.

The Adam Carolla Show dished all the dirt on the viral Jess earlier this morning. The 26-year-old actress and her 33-year-old former flame dated for a while, before Jessica settled into a long-term relationship with Cash Warren. But now Jesse’s STD may be the only gift with staying power.

Internet Pharmacy - Buy Pharmacy at reasanoble prices.Internet Pharmacy provides confortable and easy way to order pharmacy via internet.Apparently Alba regularly filled a Valtrex prescription during her relationship with Cash Warren, but how Derek fits into the puzzle is still a mystery.

Suppose the rumors are true. The list of people in Hollywood making appointments this morning might be astounding:

* Derek may have infected Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minnillo and Jessica Biel

* Mariah, Vanessa and Jessica may have infected Cash Warren, Nick Lachey and Justin Timberlake

* And if they did two friends and those two friends did two friends… This could be epidemic!

Wonder if there’s an immunization for stupidity?

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Critics needle herpes ad push

August 7, 2007

“Nearly one in two African-American adults has genital herpes. Could it be you? Could it be your partner? … A simple blood test is the best way to know if you have it.”That’s the language of an advertisement that has begun running in publications and on radio stations with largely black audiences in cities including Baltimore, Detroit and Atlanta.

The ad is part of a campaign by drugmaker GlaxoSmith Kline to educate black communities about genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease that is far more common among African-Americans than other racial or ethnic groups. The effort has divided public health authorities and raised complicated questions about race, sex, disease and commerce.Dr. Scott Morris, executive director of Memphis’ Church Health Center, called the campaign “troubling.”

“What we have here in Memphis is a real epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, led by syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea,” he said. “Herpes is, for the most part, a discomfort, but it doesn’t lead to really bad things like these others. … STDs are a real problem in our community, whether you are black or white. I wouldn’t be identifying African-Americans as in need of special treatment.”

As a pharmaceutical marketing tool, Glaxo’s genital herpes effort may set a new standard for candor — and controversy.

The “Say Yes to Knowing” campaign partners Glaxo with the National Medical Association, the country’s main society of black physicians, and the American Social Health Association (ASHA), a nearly century-old organization devoted to fighting what used to be called “venereal disease.” Each has received money from Glaxo in the past, although no donations were made in connection with this effort.

The campaign was introduced last month in Detroit, where it had the support of the local health department. In Baltimore the health commissioner has declined to endorse it.

Glaxo makes one of three drugs for genital herpes, which is caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2. The infection cannot be cured, but it can be suppressed with daily medication.

Some experts worry that the campaign may lead to widespread testing and large-scale treatment of people who do not have symptoms — a strategy not recommended by health authorities.

“My sense is that this is probably a high-risk campaign for GSK,” said Edward Hook, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and chairman of the board of ASHA. He believes that the campaign “will raise awareness across the country.”

A federal survey in the early 1990s found that 21 percent of American adults had the infection. Among blacks, the rate was 48 percent. A follow-up survey this decade found that the national prevalence had fallen to 17 percent, but in blacks it had not gone down significantly.

Discount Pharmacy - Buy Pharmacy at discount prices including free shipping.Discount Pharmacy provides confortable and easy way to order discount pharmacy online.Medical authorities advise testing anyone with herpes-like sores and treating those who have active or painful infections. Many experts also support long-term treatment of an infected person whose regular partner is uninfected. A study several years ago showed that a daily dose of Glaxo’s drug valacyclovir (sold as Valtrex) cut the odds of transmitting the virus in half — from 4 percent to 2 percent — over a period of eight months.

Few experts, however, recommend testing all adults for herpes. Both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reject routine screening.

There are several reasons.

Telling people they have an incurable, sexually transmitted disease can have serious social and emotional consequences. And there is no evidence that long-term treatment of tens of millions of asymptomatic people is worth the time, effort and anguish.

And treatment can be expensive. While generic acyclovir, the oldest anti-herpes drug, costs as little as $9.96 for a month’s supply, Glaxo’s Valtrex costs $192.88.

Whether testing and treatment of a subpopulation, such as black adults, are useful and cost-effective has not been studied.

For their part, Glaxo officials describe the campaign as largely an educational experiment. The company is surveying about 100 people in each city before and after the campaign to see if they learned anything about herpes.

“The first step is to see if we are able to move the needle and increase awareness,” said Marc Meachem, a company official. The survey is not a formal study, and is not to be published.

Glaxo Senior Vice President Lynn Marks said, “We haven’t said that we should screen any populations.”

Nevertheless, on 100,000 brochures and a Web site, Herpes411.com, from the company, a message says, “A simple blood test is the best way to know if you have the virus.”

The Church Health Center’s Morris said it’s not so simple.

“It’s an expensive test,” he said. “If people have insurance, the assumption is that insurance will pay for it, but if you are uninsured, people are not going to be able to pay for that.”

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Kenya: Aids Study Targets Families At Home

August 2, 2007

A HIV and Aids prevalence survey to take place within homes has been launched.

The Sh500 million survey - which targets 20,000 women and men aged between 15 and 64 years in 10,000 households - will be conducted from August to November.

Gathering Data

The research also aims at gathering data on the prevalence of tuberculosis, syphilis and genital herpes.

Syphilis and genital herpes are sexually transmitted diseases which can be cured but can permanently injure unborn babies. Those infected by herpes also increase their chances of contracting HIV.

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Speaking during the launch, the director of medical services James Nyikal said: “The survey will also provide the Health ministry with information to plan prevention, care and treatment of Aids and other sexually transmitted infections”.

Research teams from the ministry and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Nyikal added, would select the various households to participate in all provinces at random.

“After the interview, the respondents will be requested to donate a blood sample (about one spoonful) for testing for HIV, syphilis and genital herpes,”.

Health assistant minister Enock Kibunguchy presided over the ceremony held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

Country coordinator

He was flanked by Health PS Hezron Nyangito, UN Aids country coordinator Erasmus Morah, Centres for Disease representative Bill Gallo and National Council for Population Development acting chief executive Kimeli Chepsiror.

The US, through USAid, has provided the bulk of the funding - Sh232 million - for the research while UNAids, CDC and the World Health Organisation are providing both funding and technical help.

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New sex lubricant blocks HIV and genital herpes

July 29, 2007

Lead researcher Dr Jeremy Paull from Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company Starpharma told the International AIDS Society conference in Sydney the gel would be used by heterosexual men who apply it directly to themselves before sex.

It would be most useful in sub-Saharan African nations where the HIV epidemic is mostly seen among heterosexuals.

The active ingredient in the microbicide is dendrimer, a molecule which binds itself to the viruses and prevents them from infecting healthy cells, Dr Paull said.

Recent trials on animals have shown it is between 85 and 100 per cent effective at blocking both viruses.

Safety trials of the gel are now underway in humans. The first results, presented at the congress, show it is safe and well tolerated in healthy men, uncircumcised or not.

Dr Paull said the gel’s ability to prevent genital herpes was particularly positive, news.com.au reports.

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VivaGel(TM) is being developed as a topical vaginal microbicide for the prevention of HIV and genital herpes, and is currently under investigation in healthy female volunteers in two separate expanded safety clinical trials at four sites in the U.S. and Kenya. VivaGel(TM) also shows promise as a contraceptive agent.

VivaGel(TM) is also being explored as a condom coating following the recent signing of an agreement with a leading international condom company.

The agreement includes a program of evaluation and development and also commercialisation rights covering condoms with VivaGel(TM) coatings within a specified geographical region. The condom company, whose name may not be disclosed for reasons of confidentiality, holds the leading market position within that region. The market in question is in the developed world, and ranks within the top five globally, measured by GDP, CNNMoney.com reports.

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Herpes awareness ads divide officials

July 29, 2007

That’s the language of an advertisement that has begun running in publications and on radio stations with largely black audiences in cities including Baltimore, Detroit, and Atlanta.

The ad is part of a campaign by drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline to educate blacks about genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease that is far more common among African-Americans than other racial or ethnic groups. The effort has divided public health authorities and raised complicated questions about race, sex, disease, and commerce.

As a pharmaceutical marketing tool, it may set a new standard for candor — and controversy.

The “Say Yes to Knowing” campaign partners Glaxo with the National Medical Association, the country’s main society of black physicians, and the American Social Health Association, of ASHA, a nearly century-old organization devoted to fighting what used to be called “venereal disease.” Each has received money from Glaxo in the past, although no donations were made in connection with this effort.

The campaign was introduced last month in Detroit, where it had the support of the local health department. In Baltimore the health commissioner has declined to endorse it.

Glaxo makes one of three drugs for genital herpes, which is caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2. The infection cannot be cured, but it can be suppressed with daily medication.

Some specialists worry that the campaign may lead to widespread testing and large-scale treatment of people who do not have symptoms — a strategy not recommended by federal health authorities. Even Glaxo’s supporters think the effort is likely to be controversial.

“My sense is that this is probably a high-risk campaign for GSK,” said Edward Hook, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and chairman of the board of ASHA. He believes that the campaign “will raise awareness across the country.” He added, “I don’t think even many doctors know how common genital herpes is.”

A federal survey in the early 1990s found that 21 percent of American adults had the infection. Among blacks, the rate was 48 percent. A follow-up survey this decade found that the national prevalence had fallen to 17 percent, but in blacks it had not gone down significantly.

Internet Pharmacy - Buy Pharmacy at reasanoble prices.Internet Pharmacy provides confortable and easy way to order pharmacy via internet.In about 40 percent of newly infected people, the virus causes painful, pimple-like sores on the genitals. Although they eventually go away even without treatment, they can reappear every few months. In most people, recurrences are less frequent as time passes. In the survey, only 1 in 10 people who tested positive knew they were infected. A person without symptoms can transmit the virus to a sexual partner.

Genital herpes poses two chief hazards, apart from pain and embarrassment. Active infection in late pregnancy can cause devastating illness in a newborn. Infection also triples the risk of acquiring the AIDS virus from an HIV-infected person.

Medical authorities advise testing anyone with herpes-like sores and treating those who have active or painful infections. Many specialists also support long-term treatment of an infected person whose regular partner is uninfected. A study several years ago showed that a daily dose of Glaxo’s drug valacyclovir (Valtrex) cut the odds of transmitting the virus in half — from 4 percent to 2 percent — over a period of eight months.

Few specialists, however, recommend testing all adults for herpes. Both the US Preventive Services Task Force, which advises the Department of Health and Human Services, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reject routine screening.

There are several reasons.

Telling people they have an incurable, sexually transmitted disease can have serious social and emotional consequences. And there is no evidence that long-term treatment of tens of millions of asymptomatic people is worth the time, effort, and anguish.

And treatment can be expensive. While generic acyclovir, the oldest anti-herpes drug, costs as little as $9.96 for a month’s supply, Glaxo’s Valtrex costs $192.88.

Whether testing and treatment of a subpopulation, such as black adults, are useful and cost-effective has not been studied. A mathematical model published in March concluded that “suppressive coverage” would reduce the prevalence of genital herpes, especially if drugs were started right after people acquire the virus.

Baltimore’s health commissioner, Joshua M. Sharfstein, said his department turned down Glaxo’s request to become a local partner in its campaign “because of the lack of evidence to support, as a public health strategy, screening for herpes in people without symptoms.”

For their part, Glaxo officials describe the campaign as largely an educational experiment.

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