Maverick Jones

Effectiveness of Acyclovir

Genital herpes can be treated by proper use of acyclovir. Read this article to learn more about this drug and how it can help you treat genital herpes.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Oral herpes leads to the development of sores on and around the face and the mouth. This type of herpes can spread through sexual or skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Genital herpes affects the anal area and the genitals. This type of herpes can spread through genital contact with an infected individual. Even oral sex or kissing can make you vulnerable to genital herpes. Even if you do not experience any symptoms of this infection, chances remain that the herpes simplex virus is lying dormant in your body and can get activated any time. In fact, most people who have genital herpes do not experience any symptoms and this makes genital herpes difficult to diagnose. Also, the risk of transmission increases because of the asymptomatic nature of herpes infection.

Some people who have symptoms can have sores and blisters on the infected areas. These sores can be itchy and painful, especially if it is your first outbreak. Recurrent outbreaks of this health condition are milder in nature. A mother who is infected with genital herpes can pass it on to the baby during childbirth, which can be dangerous. Genital herpes can affect anyone but it is seen that people with a weak immune system are more prone to it. While some people experience only one outbreak, some suffer from 5-6 outbreaks in the first year of transmission.

The bad news is that once the herpes virus enters your body, it cannot be eliminated even by medicines. The good news is that this virus can be treated and the number of outbreaks of herpes can be reduced. Consult a doctor if you think you have contracted the herpes simplex virus. Going to a doctor every 3 months for a virus check will be helpful.

Acyclovir

This medication is an antiviral drug that slows down the growth and spread of the herpes virus in the body, which gives the body more time to fight off this infection. It is misspelled as aciclovir by some people. This medication does not cure herpes but it can certainly lessen the severity of its symptoms. Acyclovir is used for the treatment of shingles, chickenpox, genital herpes and cold sores. Taking this medication for a longer period of time than prescribed can increase the risk of side effects. Some common side effects of this drug are headache, body ache and sleeplessness. At times, your symptoms might go away even before you complete the entire course of treatment with the prescribed acyclovir dosage, but even then you must complete the entire course.

You can infect others even during your treatment course and it is best if you avoid having sexual contact with anyone before you treat genital herpes completely. The sooner you start using acyclovir, the better it is for you. Generally, you should start the treatment as soon as you experience symptoms such as burning, blisters and tingling. If you want to prevent the spread of herpes virus, use a latex condom and avoid touching the infected areas.

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