How to prevent herpes simplex? What are the symptoms?

The herpes simplex virus has weak resistance to external factors and can be inactivated by heating at 56°C for 30 minutes, irradiating with ultraviolet light for 5 minutes, or using lipid solvents such as ether; however, its biological activity can be preserved for a long time at -70°C. So what are the symptoms of herpes simplex?

What are the symptoms of herpes simplex

Herpes can occur in any part of the body. So what symptoms will a patient experience when suffering from herpes simplex?

It is understood that it is not difficult to diagnose patients with typical herpes lesions on the body surface; for patients whose lesions only exist deep in the cavity, such as the reproductive tract, respiratory tract, and rectum, misdiagnosis may occur if a comprehensive and careful physical examination is not conducted.

Herpes simplex is divided into primary and recurrent.

The incubation period of primary herpes is 2 to 12 days, with an average of 6 days. After the initial herpes is treated or relieved on its own, the virus can still remain dormant in the body for a long time and can be activated by irritating factors such as fever, ultraviolet radiation, wind, menstruation, trauma, emotional excitement, tension, gastrointestinal dysfunction, etc., manifesting as recurrent herpes, and often recurring. Many patients with recurrent herpes may have prodromal symptoms before the onset of the disease, such as local paresthesia.

Except for a few patients with systemic disseminated infection or herpes encephalitis who are in serious condition, herpes simplex mostly presents as local erosive lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, and the systemic symptoms are generally mild. However, relatively speaking, the systemic symptoms of patients with initial herpes are often more obvious than those with recurrent herpes. The skin and mucous membrane lesions of initial herpes often take 2 to 3 weeks to heal, while the lesions of patients with recurrent herpes usually disappear within 1 week.

Herpes simplex diet taboos

It is advisable to eat light foods that have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, such as: mung bean sprouts, winter melon, cucumber, watermelon, loofah, pakchoy, fresh lotus root, amaranth, shepherd's purse, celery, etc.

Avoid spicy and hot foods. Fatty meat, maltose, milk and sweet foods can easily make the damp-heat toxins of this disease unable to reach the body. Sour and astringent foods include peas, water chestnuts, pomegranates, taro, spinach, etc.

Avoid spicy, fishy foods, as well as irritating foods such as chicken, dog meat, shrimp, crab, pork head, goose meat, sweet and greasy foods.

How to Prevent Herpes Simplex

1. Newborns, people with low immune function, and patients with chronic skin diseases such as eczema should avoid contact with patients with this disease as much as possible. Pregnant women with genital herpes should undergo cesarean section to avoid birth canal infection of the baby. Patients with genital herpes should avoid sexual intercourse and avoid magnetic therapy to reduce its spread. For recurrent vulvar herpes, regular cervical smear examinations should be performed to detect cervical cancer at an early stage.

2. When patients with herpes simplex appear in childcare institutions, they should be isolated at home and can only return home after recovery. Pregnant women with genital herpes should have cesarean section.

3. Adhere to the premarital physical examination system, avoid sexual intercourse, and promote safe sexual life; when necessary, use condoms during intercourse to help control or reduce the prevalence of genital herpes infection. For patients with frequent recurrences of herpes, try to remove or avoid the inducing factors.

The above measures can help prevent the occurrence of herpes simplex infection or the onset of pre-existing latent infection. Currently, the vaccine for the prevention of herpes simplex has entered the clinical trial stage.

4. Remember to wash your hands after touching the wound to prevent the virus from spreading around through your hands.

5. Avoid eye contact and kissing, and do not share tableware, towels, lipstick, oral hygiene products, razors, etc.

6. Patients with genital herpes should avoid all kinds of sexual behaviors during the outbreak.

7. Patients with genital herpes should use condoms throughout their sexual intercourse. Even when not sick, people with genital herpes can still transmit the virus to others.

8. Female patients with genital herpes can only become pregnant if there is no relapse within one year after stopping medication. Studies have shown that pregnant women infected with genital herpes are more likely to suffer miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth. If the infection is passed on to the fetus, the mortality rate of neonatal herpes is as high as 50%.