| ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX |
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Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test |
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Herpes simplex |
| Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention |
| Treatment: |
| Some cases are relatively mild and may not require treatment. In severe or prolonged cases, as well as in individuals who are immunosuppressed or who have frequent recurrences, antiviral medications such as acyclovir or its derivatives may be used. In individuals with more than 6 recurrences of genital herpes per year, chronic antiviral medications may be offered to reduce recurrences. |
| Support Groups: |
| Support groups and dating services are available for people with genital herpes and may help people cope with the disorder. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
| The oral or genital lesions usually heal on their own in 7 to 10 days unless an individual has an underlying condition that weakens the immune system, in which case the infection may be more severe and last longer. Once infected, the virus stays in the body for the rest of a person's life and recurrences of active infection may occur. Recurrences may be precipitated by overexposure to sunlight, fever, stress, acute illness, and medications or conditions that weaken the immune system (such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or use of corticosteroids). |
| Complications: |
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| Calling your health care provider: |
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Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms which appear to be herpes infection as there are many different conditions which can cause similar lesions (particularly in the genital area). If you have a history of herpes infection and you develop similar lesions, notify your health care provider if they do not resolve after 7-10 days, or if you have a condition that weakens your immune system. |
Herpetic whitlow on the thumb |
Herpes simplex - close-up |
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