Dear Dr. Donohue — Give me all the information possible about herpes. I am a carrier. — D.N.
Answer — I take it you're interested in genital herpes — herpes simplex virus-2, HSV-2. The first encounter with the virus leads to an outbreak of tiny, painful blisters on red patches on the genital skin. Fever, headache, muscle pain and pain on urination often are also experienced with a first outbreak. Recurrent attacks are not as severe. Fever, headache and muscle pain do not accompany subsequent outbreaks, but the skin signs are painful. The first year of infection is a year of more-frequent outbreaks. After that, they come less often. If a person is subject to many outbreaks, that person can suppress them by taking Zovirax, Famvir or Valtrex at the first inklings that an outbreak is about to take place. For recurrence after recurrence, a person can go on daily doses of these medicines to keep outbreaks in check.
Once infected, a person stays infected for life. That person is a carrier.
Transmission is a huge problem. Even when a person has no signs of an outbreak, he or she can pass the virus to a partner. Therefore, all sexual partners should be told about the infection. Condoms, while not 100 percent protective, afford a major degree of safety. When a visible outbreak takes place, the infected person ought not to engage in sexual contact.
You are not alone. The herpes-2 virus infects up to 20 percent of the adult population of North America. Bad as it is, it is not the end of life or the end of a sex life.
Dear Dr. Donohue — Can hand sanitizer kill all harmful bacteria? Can the bacteria in probiotics kill off harmful bacteria? Can probiotics cure a strep throat? — D.D.
Answer — By "hand sanitizer," do you mean waterless hand cleaners? Most of them incorporate ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. They kill many bacteria, but not all harmful ones. Nothing short of sterilization does that.
Frequent hand-washing with soap and water for 20 seconds is an effective way of eliminating many germs, including cold and flu viruses. You don't have to use soap that has antibacterial agents in it. The water doesn't have to be hot; cool water is fine. Dry your hands with a paper, disposable towel and turn off the faucets in a public restroom with a paper towel. Probiotics are products that contain viable bacteria. The bacteria most often incorporated are Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. They restore a more normal bacterial population to the colon and lessen the multiplication of harmful bacteria. They even produce material that can possibly kill off some of the bad bacteria.
Probiotics do not cure a strep throat.
Write Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, Fla. 32853-6475.
