Monday, September 5, 2011
MELISSA (real name withheld upon request), a freshman college student of a sectarian academic institution, sought consultation at the school clinic for complaints of burning sores and blisters on her lips. Upon initial inspection by the school physician, she was informed without further explanation that her case would have to be referred to a specialist.
Puzzled yet decided, she went to a specialist and was diagnosed with herpes, a form of venereal disease.
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Venereal disease, as defined by medical literatures, is an umbrella term for a host of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or sexually transmitted infections (STI).
According to medical linguists, the latter term is preferred over the previous as other infected patients may have concealed clinical manifestations or symptoms but do not necessarily make them less contagious.
During the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the euphemistic term “venereal disease” was used universally to pertain to STIs associating the disease to Venus, the Roman Goddess of Love.
In a medical anthropologic perspective, this is explained by the belief that the “act of lovemaking” is the sole cause for such morbidity.
However, this previous belief is dispelled by contemporary literatures extending the possibility of contracting it with non-sexual behaviors like sharing of intravenous needles.
In the eye of a sociologist, venereal diseases may be euphemistically termed as a “social infirmity,” as conscious human behaviours -- promiscuity, concubinage and philandering -- dictate the susceptibility of a person or group of persons in contracting such a disease.
According to an online medical dictionary, the microbiologic causes of venereal diseases may range from a bacterial, fungal, protozoal and parasitic to a viral organism.
Since the medical jargon venereal disease is an umbrella term, one of the diseases it describes is what is known as “Herpes.”
“Herpes or Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is a viral disease caused by both herpes simplex virus 1 and 2,” as explained in the book entitled “The Textbook of Venereal Diseases.”
It maintains that of the two, HSV 1 is associated with infections of the mouth, lips and face and it’s the most common herpes occurring in childhood.
On the other hand, it says that HSV 2, although may share symptoms with HSV1, may remain asymptomatic, meaning no symptoms for certain individuals.
According to Dr. Carol Porth, author of the famed book Pathophysiology: “HSV 1 is associated with cold sores in the mouth while HSV 2 is to genital herpes.”
Dr. Porth explains that both HSV1 and HSV2 are known as Neurotropic viruses, meaning they grow in the neurons of the affected individual even in the absence of signs and symptoms.
She says the incubation period for HSV is two to 10 days.
“The virus can remain dormant for a long period of time until something triggers it although the mechanism is still poorly understood,” she said.
Health experts claim that the symptoms of herpes include tingling, itching and pain on the site of infection. This is then followed by an eruption of small pustules and vesicles. Upon eruption, the broken skin is excruciatingly painful to touch.
“Untreated infections are usually self-limiting and may last approximately two to four weeks. However, recurrence is always a possibility,” says Dr. Amanda Patterson, an American Obstetrician.
According to pathologists, the diagnosis of herpes is based on the symptoms, appearance of lesions and identification of virus.
“There is no known cure for HSV and the modes of treatment are largely symptomatic,” Dr. Patterson emphasized.
“Topical treatment with antibacterial soaps, lotions and ultraviolet lights have been tried but with little success,” Dr. Porth adds.
Some experts suggest the use of cool compress, sitz bath, topical anesthetics and oral analgesics.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that good hygiene is essential to prevent secondary infection. An example would be meticulous hand washing and to avoid hand to eye contact as it can cause blindness once herpes infects the eyes.
On the other hand, despite the advancement in medical knowledge and research, the so-called “old myths” or “folk beliefs” surrounding STDs still flourish in this era.
The following are examples of myths related to herpes: (1) A person can usually predict when their herpes may be contagious; (2) Condoms provide complete protection against spreading genital herpes; (3) Only promiscuous people get genital herpes; (4) Genital herpes can only be transmitted via penetrative sex; (5) Herpes can be transmitted via inanimate objects; (6) If you are in a monogamous relationship and get genital herpes, your partner must be cheating on you.
To counter such myths, the following are the collective answers of medical experts: (1) The herpes virus can be active on the surface of the skin without showing any signs or causing any symptoms; (2) Condoms cannot totally protect anyone from herpes; it only reduces the risk; (3) Genital herpes can affect anyone however; the number of sexual partners is not a reliable factor in contracting the disease as, contrary to other STDs, genital herpes persists indefinitely and can be transmitted for many years, perhaps for life; (4) Genital Herpes can be transmitted via oral, anal and vaginal sex. The majority of transmission occurs when the blisters or sores are invisible; (5) Inanimate objects cannot harbor herpes as the virus would need a break in the skin in order to penetrate and it cannot survive without a live host; (6) You or your partner may have contracted the virus from a sexual partner a long time ago, or, you or your partner may have had genital herpes all along without knowing it. Herpes outbreaks can occur with very mild symptoms that go unnoticed.
As for Melissa, she was certain she had not had any sexual encounters for the past month. She exerts that her boyfriend had not manifested any related symptoms and that they had a monogamous relationship.
She has been prescribed with a vitamin supplement, a number of antiviral tablets and an antiviral topical cream to be applied on her lips at least four times a day.
To save you all the troubles, always remember that prevention is better than cure. (Comments may be sent to polo.journalist@gmail.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on September 06, 2011.
