What is herpes simplex? How to treat herpes simplex

Among the various types of herpes, herpes simplex has the highest incidence. Generally speaking, after the onset of herpes simplex, patients also need to learn more about the related common sense.

What is herpes simplex?

The disease is caused by human herpes simplex virus (HSV), which often invades the junction of the skin and mucous membranes. The rash is localized clustered small blisters. Its clinical characteristics are long-term viral latency and repeated attacks.

Human HSV is a DNA virus, which is divided into two subtypes according to its antigenic properties: HSV-I and HSV-II. HSV-Ⅰ mainly invades the face, brain and areas above the waist, while HSV-Ⅱ mainly invades the genitals and areas below the waist. Normal people can be virus carriers. Humans are the only natural host of the herpes simplex virus, and 70% to 90% of adults have been infected with HSV-Ⅰ. The virus enters the body through the mouth, respiratory tract, genitals and broken skin, and resides in the normal mucous membranes, blood, saliva, nerve tissue and most organs. When certain predisposing factors such as fever, cold, sun exposure, emotional excitement, gastrointestinal dysfunction, drug allergy, excessive fatigue, mechanical stimulation, menstruation, pregnancy, etc. contribute to the occurrence of this disease, it can spread through the blood or neural pathways.

How to treat herpes simplex?

1. Local treatment

Mainly used for astringency, drying and prevention of secondary infection. You can apply 3% phthalamide cream, 3% acyclovir eye ointment and 2% gentian violet solution topically 3 or 4 times a day. If there is secondary infection, 0.5% neomycin ointment, 0.5% chloramphenicol eye ointment or mupirocin ointment, davibond cream, etc. can be used. When erosion and exudation occur, 3% boric acid solution or 1% aluminum acetate solution can be used for local wet compresses to dry the skin lesions, reduce or eliminate the pain, and shorten the course of the disease.

For herpes keratitis and conjunctivitis, you can use 0.1% herpes eye drops, 1% acyclovir eye drops and 0.1% ribavirin eye drops, once every 2 hours. For recurrent patients, 3% acyclovir eye ointment and 0.1% dexamethasone eye drops can be used for combined treatment, which is faster, more effective and has a shorter treatment course than using antiviral drugs alone.

2. Systemic treatment

Oral nucleoside antiviral drugs can be selected for treatment. In addition to nucleoside antiviral drugs, non-nucleoside antiviral drugs can also be used, such as ribavirin, isopropylinosine, polyinosine, interferon, etc., which can be used in combination with nucleoside drugs.