Herpes Essay Research Paper

Herpes is the number 1 STD in the World. At least seven herpes viruses are in the world today. The most common viruses are Herpes Simplex 1 and 2. Other types are Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), Varicella Zoster Virus(VZV), which also causes Chicken Pox and Shingles, Cytomegalovirus(CMV), And Human Herpes Virus(HHV). Also, there are lots of herpes viruses for animals. Most of these are not infectious towards humans. Herpes is spreading at a rate of 1/2 million people a year. 1 in 6 adults have the virus. Herpes is spread only by direct contact. If you have herpes somewhere on your body, it won?t show up anywhere else, unless you touch the active virus and then touch another part of the body or someone else?s body. Herpes can also be carried in saliva. It can be transmitted from and open sore. Herpes can be spread during vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone with the active virus. During childbirth, a mother can give it to her baby. The herpes virus is an icosahedral capsid surrounded by an envelope. It?s diameter is approximately 100nm. This contains the dsDNA genome. This envelope will break open and release the negatively stained virions into the body causing herpes. Symptoms of the virus show up between 1-30 days after having sex. Sometimes people don?t even have any symptoms. The symptoms are Flu-like feelings, itching or burning, painful blisters on the sex organs or mouth. These blisters will last 1-3 weeks. Even if the blisters do go away you will still have the herpes virus, there is no cure. The blisters may come back. Even though there is no cure for herpes there are some treatments. Some of forms of treatments are prescription drugs, herbal remedies, Cold sore treatments, nutritional changes, vitamins, psychotherapy, etc. There are other drugs that help to reduce the severity, frequency of occurrences, and the duration of herpes. These drugs are Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir. Acyclovir has been around now for about 13 years. Herpes is a very serious issue for many people. It is annoying, aggravating, and inconvenient. It is not a fun thing to be involved with and is very common. If you have herpes you are not alone there are many other people who have this virus, and anyone can receive it. So be careful and don?t be caught with Herpes. Bibliography1. http://members.aol.com/herpesite/index.html#info2. http://www.utc.ac.za/depts/mmi/stannard/herpes.html3. http://www.pps.co.uk/ihmf/ihmf0009.htm4. STD Facts Brochure.