Genital herpes: a hidden epidemic

FDA Consumer, March-April, 2002 by Linda Bren

For several months after birth, infants are at risk for getting herpes. People with oral herpes (cold sores) should avoid kissing the baby. Wearing a mask over the cold sore when around the baby is recommended.

If a baby is infected with herpes, early treatment is critical. The FDA has approved the drug acyclovir in injectable form to treat infants with herpes.

Harboring Herpesvirus

The virus that causes genital herpes enters the body through the skin. It then travels along nerve pathways to settle in nerve roots near the base of the spine (sacral ganglia). (1) In this stage, the virus is inactive. But it periodically reactivates, reproduces, and travels along the nerves back to the surface of the skin or mucous membrane. (2) Symptoms of this reactivation vary widely. Sometimes there are no visible signs, but a person can still transmit the virus because it is present on the skin surface. Other times, there is an itching or tingling sensation, which may be followed by the appearance of one or more blisters or pimples. (3) The blisters may break into open sores, (4) crust over, (5) then gradually disappear.

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