These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Herpes Simplex
Question: If one partner has genital herpes, it can be transmitted to the other partner. Once this partner has it, can it be re-transmitted back and forth over and over again, or, once you have it in your system, is it there and no further transmission between two partners would matter? Also, is there any relationship between genital herpes and herpes zoster? Can the two different herpes viruses be “intermingled”?
Answer: Herpes Simplex can be classified as Herpes simplex 1 or 2. This is a DNA virus that in general affects mucosal surfaces. Once an individual has herpes infection anti-bodies develop that effectively prevent repeat infections. However, the primary infection tends to break out at random times. There have been some reported cases of an individual having separate infections to Herpes 1 and 2. However, in general one primary infection is all that is seen. Consequently, once an individual has an infection he/she cannot be reinfected. They may however, transmit an infection to a previously uninfected individual.
Herpes Zoster is a related but different virus. Consequently, infection from Herpes Simplex does not protect from Zoster and vice versa. Zoster is usually seen as common “chicken pox”. Like Simplex, once an individual is infected they will not be re-infected. However, the Zoster may reemerge as “shingles”. It is very rare to have concomitant infections with Simplex and Zoster.
Herpes Simplex
Question: Many years ago (3 years) I had sex at a young age. I was healthy up until that point. I have had headaches everyday for 2 years, my joints are constantly burning, my kidneys burn and my urethra feels sharp hits of pain. I know something is wrong and I would like a game plan. It also seems that my heart has been affected and my spine burns.
Answer: The act of intercourse inself would not produce the symptoms that you are having. However, there are different sexually transmitted infections which may produce many or all of the symptoms. Chylmadia, syphilis and other organisms can produce different well known syndromes post intercourse. I would contact a physician specializing in sexually transmitted diseases. Also, this may have nothing to do with intercourse in which case an Arthritis specialist would be the best person to contact.
Genital Herpes
Question: Are there therapies for genital herpes, other than, aclyvoir?
Can such things as the heart, blood vessels, etc. be scarred as a result of genital herpes; is there a reason that blood thinners etc., could aid for declined cognitive skills.
Answer: Although there are some newer drugs for the treatment of genital herpes, they generally fall into the same class as acyclovir. The major advantage of these drugs is in frequency and a little bit in terms of nausea. I don’t think that my patients have noticed a major advantage in the newer drugs, but I’m sure some patients will benefit from taking the drug less often.
Herpes infections usually aren’t involved a great deal in the heart and blood vessels. Systemic herpes infections can be quite severe and involve any organ system. However, once the inital infection is defeated by one’s immune system, the long-term effects of Herpes on different organs are pretty minimal. Consequently, long-term therapy with blood thinners, etc. is rarely a problem.
