Even just a decade ago, herpes was busy causing fear of the unknown, spreading across cities and countries like wildfire. Soon after, AIDS came to the rise and the world’s population sort of forgot about herpes. Sadly, the disease never left. Especially in the case of genital herpes, infected patients have been increasing in number since the 1970s. Today it has come to such a point, in the United States of America, one out of every five people has herpes, falling in the 12 and above age range.

Herpes type 2 is very different from type 1, which is also known as oral herpes, a condition that affects almost all children before they cross the age 5. Oral herpes gives rise to sores around the mouth region and on the lips, while genital herpes affects the body below the waist. Having type 1 herpes does not mean that you will certainly have genital herpes too. As experts explain, the two of them are separate diseases.

In recent times, the media has been trying to raise awareness of herpes since it targets such a large portion of the human population. It is worst for youngsters, since they have a higher chance of contracting genital herpes. Studies and polls helped discover that over 40% of grade 9 students and more than 70% of high school students have sex, which is probably how the spread herpes to one another. What is upsetting is the fact that they do not know that they have acquired genital herpes, especially since there is a lack of symptoms on the body. As a matter of fact, out of all the people that have been diagnosed this year with herpes, only 10% were aware of genital herpes and its consequences.

Most individuals just assume that a fever or the flu has hit them, whenever they are being exposed to herpes. The primary sign/symptom of herpes are the sores and blisters, that people often mistaken for yeast infection, rashes or bug bite. The blisters could be rather painful, taking at last one week to reduce and disappear. Although individuals may feel guilty or upset later, they must understand that even physicians and doctors miss their case of herpes, sorely due to the lack of symptoms. The key is to approach a doctor who could help you with your problem. Now, this doctor could be your family doctor, a general physician, a gynaecologist or just a specialist. While there is a test to distinguish the two types of herpes, there are separate blood tests for both.

After getting infected, it takes about two week for the first outbreak to take place. From there on, the first year takes a little getting used to, with the recurrent outbreaks, the pain and all that extra work of taking care of the sores. Statistics show that women have a slightly higher percentage than men when it comes to the level of cases of herpes contraction. The mental effects are as bad as the physical ones; patients feel isolated, angry, betrayed, upset and lost. Even after all of this, many people are ready to dismiss herpes as an ever-increasing epidemic.

It has been noted that other sexually transmitted diseases are shadowed by AIDS, even though they are all serious too, requiring immediate medical attention. For instance, along with being incurable, herpes also appears as a threat to neonates. Expecting mothers could easily contract it and pass it on to their unborn foetus, causing him/her to have brain damage. The infant could also die to the virus.

Naturally, scientists are working hard to find a cure and a vaccine for herpes. This way, not only the herpes be cured, there will also be no more outbreaks, pain and blisters. Till a vaccine or a form of medication is found, patients are advised to take care of themselves and manage the outbreaks as best as they can. Moreover, the general public are encouraged to go in for herpes blood tests every now and then, since there is a large group of people who have herpes and do not even show it. This is highly risky and problematic for all people, since having any form of sexual contact would mean transferring the disease. Furthermore, this also proves to be scary for pregnant mothers.

Even though a vaccine has not been found, the treatment of genital herpes is being bettered day by day. It has also been heard that a drug that suppresses the virus shedding from people who are asymptomatic may be made in the near future. This will not only reduce the number of herpes patients, it will also give a ray of hope for all those asymptomatic herpes patients.