Americans Have Herpes Like Nobody's Business

by leavingwt 23 Replies latest social current

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  leavingwt

  I guess we do need some universal health care. These numbers are shocking. The really scary part is the number of folks who don't even know that they are infected. Be careful out there, folks.

  U.S. Herpes Rates Remain High

  About 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 are infected with genital herpes, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

  Black women had the highest rate of infection at 48 percent and women were nearly twice likely as men to be infected, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  About 21 percent of women were infected with genital herpes, compared to only 11.5 percent of men, while 39 percent of blacks were infected compared to about 12 percent for whites, the CDC said.

  There is no cure for genital herpes, or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and also increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus. It is related to herpes simplex virus 1, or oral herpes, which causes cold sores.

  Several drugs are available to treat herpes symptoms and outbreaks, including acyclovir, which is available generically or under the Zovirax brand name, and valacyclovir, known generically as Valtrex -- both made by GlaxoSmithKline PLC ( GSK.L ). Ganciclovir, sold as Zirgan, is made by privately-held Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.

  The CDC estimates that more than 80 percent of people with genital herpes do not know they are infected.

  "The message is herpes is quite common. The symptoms can be often very innocuous," Dr. John Douglas of the CDC said in a teleconference.

  "Because herpes is so prevalent it becomes ... a really important reason to use condoms on a consistent and correct basis with all of your partners," Douglas said.

  Douglas said the increased rate of infection in blacks is not do to increased risk behavior but likely due to biological factors that make women more susceptible as well as the higher rate of infection within black communities.

  The CDC estimates that there are 19 million new sexually transmitted disease infections every year in the United States, costing the health care system about $16 billion annually.

  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0923528620100309
• 

  cantleave

  It's all that oral sex that the WTS warned us about.
• 

  beksbks

  So now have your thoughts changed on marriage???
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  Elsewhere

  Even more interesting: 50 - 80% of the adult population has the lesser Herpes Simplex virus. This is what causes cold sores.

  If you have EVER had a cold sore in your life, you have herpes. There is no cure.
• 

  beksbks

  This reminds me of a Superbowl Sunday a few years ago. We went to a local sports bar, and did the bar thing. Fun stuff. Anyway we chat with people as you will, and we had a chat with a couple of guys who were really gettin' hammered. Married, but without wives. Ok, so later I noticed some trampy looking chick with the biggest ugliest herpy on her lip, and one of those guys was slobbering all over her. I couldn't help myself, I said, "You're wife is gonna love that herpy you bring bring home to her".
• 

  purplesofa

  Even more interesting: 50 - 80% of the adult population has the lesser Herpes Simplex virus. This is what causes cold sores.

  If you have EVER had a cold sore in your life, you have herpes. There is no cure.

  And this can be easily transmitted to a baby/child by an Adult that has it by merely kissing the baby.

  Thats why you need to be very careful about who is around your baby kissing them.
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  leavingwt

  It is related to herpes simplex virus

  Cold Sores vs. Genital Herpes

  Isn't that apples to oranges?
• 

  purplesofa

  Herpes simplex

  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  "Herpes" redirects here. For the virus that causes herpes simplex, see Herpes simplex virus. For all types of herpes viruses, see Herpesviridae.

  Herpes viruses cycle between periods of active disease—presenting as blisters containing infectious virus particles—that last 2–21 days, followed by a remission period, during which the sores disappear. Genital herpes, however, is often asymptomatic, though viral shedding may still occur. After initial infection, the viruses move to sensory nerves, where they reside as life-long, latent viruses. Causes of recurrence are uncertain, though some potential triggers have been identified. Over time, episodes of active disease reduce in frequency and severity. Herpes simplex (Ancient Greek: ?ρπης - herpes , lit. "creeping") is a viral disease caused by both herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called cold sores, infects the face and mouth. Oral herpes is the most common form of infection. Genital herpes, commonly known simply as herpes, is the second most common form of herpes. Other disorders such as herpetic whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes (keratitis), cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, Mollaret's meningitis, neonatal herpes, and possibly Bell's palsy are all caused by herpes simplex viruses.

  Herpes simplex is most easily transmitted by direct contact with a lesion or the body fluid of an infected individual. Transmission may also occur through skin-to-skin contact during periods of asymptomatic shedding. Barrier protection methods are the most reliable method of preventing transmission of herpes, but they merely reduce rather than eliminate risk. Oral herpes is easily diagnosed if the patient presents with visible sores or ulcers. Early stages of orofacial herpes and genital herpes are harder to diagnose; laboratory testing is usually required. Twenty percent of the U.S. population has antibodies to HSV-2, although not all of them have a history of genital lesions. [ 1 ]

  There is no cure for herpes. Once infected, the virus remains in the body for life. However, after several years, some people will become perpetually asymptomatic and will no longer experience outbreaks, though they may still be contagious to others. Vaccines are in clinical trials but have not demonstrated effectiveness. Treatments can reduce viral reproduction and shedding, prevent the virus from entering the skin, and alleviate the severity of symptomatic episodes.

  Herpes simplex should not be confused with conditions caused by other viruses in the herpesviridae family such as herpes zoster, which is a viral disease caused by varicella zoster virus. There is also a possibility of confusion with "hand, foot and mouth disease" due to apparition of lesions on the skin.
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  purplesofa

  I was just commenting on the cold sores.

  My daughter has gotten them all her life and I asked the doc how she got it, No one in our family has them.

  Since she started getting them before she ever even had thoughts of kissing a boy, the doc told me what I posted above.

  Just try to kiss my daughters baby and see what happens to you.

  purps
• 

  leavingwt

  purps,

  Politicians are always kissing babies and worse. I bet the rate among them is 90%.