Australian Herpes Management Forum

National Herpes Day: 13 October 2004

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In Australia, 1 in 8 people have genital herpes.

You can have genital herpes, not experience symptoms and still potentially infect someone. You may not even know you have it. Over 70% of people who have got genital herpes got it from someone with no apparent symptoms.

If you are carrying HSV-2, the virus which commonly causes genital herpes, you might not know it because:

• there are no symptoms
• the symptoms are very mild
• the symptoms seem like something else (for example thrush or dermatitis)

But even if you have minimal symptoms, you can pass the virus on to others, and they might not be as lucky.

If you are carrying the herpes virus, it's worth knowing about it. Effective treatments are available to prevent symptoms and reduce the risk of passing the virus on to your partners. Your doctor can do a test to help determine if you are carrying the herpes virus.

How does the AHMF fit in?

The AHMF provides information about herpes and how it's managed to

• people who are concerned about herpes and related conditions - See our Essential Facts page for details, or go to the Links page if you would like to search for further information.
• doctors and other health professionals - Your doctor can find the most recent recommendations for herpes testing and treatment on this site, or he or she can order them in writing from the AHMF. Please let your doctor know about this website.

More information

• Genital Herpes Essential Facts
• Herpes and Pregnancy Essential Facts
• Management guidelines for health professionals (treating herpes, herpes blood tests, preventing transmission, herpes and pregnancy, and more)

16 October 2004

More Information

Genital Herpes Essential Facts

Herpes and Pregnancy Essential Facts

Management guidelines

 

Acknowledgments The AHMF acknowledges the valuable support of the following agencies and individuals...   Producer: Darryl Robinson darrylrobinson@mac.com   Director: Greg Ferguson