Herpes is forever
1 in 8 Australians has genital herpes; 70% don’t know they’re infected.
October 5, 2005 – There’s no secret that herpes in all its forms, but particularly genital herpes, stays with you for life. Once infected, a person retains the virus in his or her body. Antiviral medication is the best way to treat and prevent the spread of this virus.
Research by the Australian Herpes Management Forum (AHMF), Australia’s leading independent herpes virus based organisation to provide evidence-based clinical information and resources for clinicians, indicates 1 in 8 Australians have genital herpes and 70% of these people acquired it from a partner with no symptoms. Anyone with the virus may or may not experience symptoms and can pass the virus on to another person. The use of condoms is recommended to prevent transmission, while prescription antiviral medication is also effective.
Knowing the facts about your health and obtaining the right treatment is crucial as 41% of respondents to an AHMF online forum during National Herpes Week 2004, were unsure they were on the right medication.
“With proper medication genital herpes can be controlled,” says Dr Joe Sasadeusz, AHMF spokesperson and board member. “Anti viral medication works extremely well for people with genital herpes and allows them more control of their lives.”
While it is true genital herpes has no cure, there are treatments available to help patients maintain a normal life and research is being carried out around the world for a vaccine for the virus.
“It’s relatively simple these days to get the right treatment for the condition,” says Dr Sasadeusz. “Today’s anti viral medications mean the difference between painful unpleasant outbreaks and being relatively episode-free.”
While current treatment for genital herpes includes antiviral medications, the search is on for preventative vaccines. Trials have been taking place all over the world, including here in Australia.
Genital herpes is one of the two most common sexually transmitted infections in Australia and one in eight people are infected with it. Often people unknowingly pass the virus to a partner because they are asymptomatic while carrying the virus.
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