Pediatrics



Patient Story
Successful heart surgery at We Care India partner hospital allows Robert Clarke to live a normal life despite a rare genetic disorder We Care india helped Robert find best super specialised surgeon for his rare condition.

Read    : Robert's Story
See All : Success Stories

Home > Treatments > Pediatrics > Pediatrics Conditions           Bookmark and Share Go Back Print This Page Add to Favorites

 


 

Overview

 

  • This very contagious infection is spread by direct contact with sores or sometimes with the affected area when no sores are present.
  • Herpes causes blisters or sores in the mouth or on the genitals and, often with the first infection, a fever and general feeling of illness.
  • The virus sometimes infects other parts of the body, including the eyes and brain.
  • Usually, doctors easily recognize the sores caused by herpes, but sometimes analysis of material from a sore, blood tests, or biopsy of a sore is necessary.

Herpes simplex virus infection causes recurring episodes of small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on the skin, mouth, lips (cold sores), eyes, or genitals.
  • This very contagious infection is spread by direct contact with sores or sometimes with the affected area when no sores are present.
  • Herpes causes blisters or sores in the mouth or on the genitals and, often with the first infection, a fever and general feeling of illness.
  • The virus sometimes infects other parts of the body, including the eyes and brain.
  • Usually, doctors easily recognize the sores caused by herpes, but sometimes analysis of material from a sore, blood tests, or biopsy of a sore is necessary.
  • No drug can eradicate the infection, but antiviral drugs can help relieve symptoms and help symptoms resolve a little sooner.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV): HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is the usual cause of cold sores on the lips (herpes labialis and sores on the cornea of the eye . HSV-2 is the usual cause of genital herpes. This distinction is not absolute: genital infections are sometimes caused by HSV-1. Infection also can occur in other parts of the body such as the brain (a serious illness) or gastrointestinal tract. Widespread infection may occur in newborns or in people with a weakened immune system.

Herpes Simplex Infection Treatment, Herpes Simplex Infection Treatment India, Cost Herpes Simplex Infection Treatment HSV is very contagious and can be spread by direct contact with sores and sometimes by contact with the oral and genital areas of people with chronic HSV infection who are between episodes of sores.

HSV infections produce an eruption of tiny blisters. The first eruption is called primary herpes. After the eruption of blisters subsides, the virus remains in a dormant (latent) state inside the collection of nerve cells (ganglia) near the spinal cord that supply the nerve fibers to the infected area. Periodically, the virus reactivates, begins growing again, and travels through the nerve fibers back to the skin—causing eruptions of blisters in the same area of skin as the earlier infection. Sometimes the virus is present on the skin or mucous membranes even when no blisters can be seen.

The virus may reactivate many times. Reactivation of a latent oral or genital HSV infection may be triggered by a fever, menstruation, emotional stress, or suppression of the immune system (for example, by a drug taken to prevent rejection of an organ transplant). An episode of cold sores can develop after physical trauma, such as a dental procedure or overexposure of the lips to sunlight. Often, the trigger is unknown.


Symptoms and Complications


An eruption of tiny blisters appears on the skin or on the mucous membranes, such as those lining the eyes, vagina, cervix, or inside of the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red.

Other Infections and Complications:

In people with a weakened immune system, recurrences of oral or genital herpes can result in progressive, gradually enlarging sores that take weeks to heal. The infection may progress inside the body, moving down into the esophagus and lungs or up into the colon. Ulcers in the esophagus cause pain during swallowing, and infection of lungs causes pneumonia with cough and shortness of breath.

Sometimes HSV-1 or HSV-2 enters through a break in the skin of a finger, causing a swollen, painful, red fingertip (herpetic whitlow). Health care workers who are exposed to saliva or other body secretions (such as dentists) when not wearing gloves are most commonly affected.

HSV-1 can infect the cornea of the eye. This infection (called herpes simplex keratitis) causes a painful sore, tearing, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision. Over time, particularly without treatment, the cornea can become cloudy, causing a significant loss of vision and requiring corneal transplantation.


How do you get herpes?

Most people get Type 1 infections, which cause cold sores, during infancy or childhood. They usually get it from close contact with family members or friends who carry the virus. It can be transmitted by kissing, sharing eating utensils, or by sharing towels. The sores most commonly affect the lips, mouth, nose, chin, or cheeks and occur shortly after exposure. Patients may barely notice any symptoms or find these sores annoying and seek medical attention.

Most people get Type 2 infections, which cause genital sores, following sexual contact with an infected person. The virus affects anywhere between five and twenty million people, up to 20% of all sexually active adults in the United States.

The lesions of both types of herpes simplex, can be spread by touching an unaffected part of the body immediately after touching a herpes lesion.


How are the HSV infections diagnosed?

The appearance of HSV is often typical and no testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis. If diagnosis is uncertain, a swab from the infected skin for culture or smear may be taken and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Laboratory tests include special microscopic examinations and blood tests for antibodies. Some tests are only valid in the early stages, and more than one of these tests may be required to confirm the presence of herpes. Genital herpes can be mistaken for other diseases, including syphilis. A small number of women with genital herpes do not know they have it because it occurs on the cervix.


How are herpes infections treated?

Oral anti-viral medications such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir have been developed to effectively treat herpes infections. These medications can be used to treat an outbreak or can be used constantly to suppress herpes recurrences, reduce outbreaks, and spreading by viral shedding.































^ Back to Top

For more information, medical assessment and medical quote

as email attachment to

Email : - info@wecareindia.com

Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST)

(Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)

 

Request Information

 

Gender :