Herpes
Any of a variety of inflammatory skin conditions characterized by spreading or creeping small clustered blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus. Forms of the virus cause COLD SORES and the sexually transmitted disease genital herpes characterized by blisters on the sex organs. The virus also causes many other conditions affecting the skin.
More than 80 known viruses exist within the herpes family. Of these, eight are known to cause disease in humans, the most common being herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. HSV1 and HSV2 look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or genitals. Usually, however, HSV1 occurs above the waist, and HSV2 below the waist. In children, HSV2 is usually associated with infections of babies who acquire the disease during birth. However, there is a certain amount of overlap between the two, and conditions usually caused by HSV2 may be caused by HSV1, and vice versa. Both types are highly infectious, spread by direct contact with the lesions or by the fluid inside the blisters.
Herpes simplex virus most commonly causes cold sores in infants and children, and genital herpes in adolescents. Herpes simplex virus is also responsible for eye infections in children and for lesions on the parts of fingers and at other sites.
Newborn Infection
A much greater concern is herpes simplex virus infection in newborn infants. The virus is most frequently transmitted to an infant from the mother during vaginal delivery or, sometimes, via ascending infection. Transmission is much more likely to occur during a vaginal birth in a mother who is having a first episode of genital herpes. In such cases, the rate of transmission may be 33 to 50 percent. Unfortunately, in most cases, infected neonates are born to women in whom neither the history nor the physical examination suggests active infection.
Herpes simplex infection in newborns can range from a local infection of the skin, eyes, and mouth to a generalized systemic infection or a localized infection of the central nervous system. Neonatal MENINGITIS is extremely rare.
Symptoms
Most children are eventually infected with HSV1. While the first infection with this virus may cause no symptoms at all, there may be a flu-like illness in addition to ulcers on the skin around the mouth; afterward, the virus remains in the nerve cells of the face. Many people experience recurrent reactivations of the virus, suffering with repeated attacks of cold sores, especially during a fever or prolonged sun exposure.
Sometimes the virus infects the finger, causing painful blisters called herpetic whitlows. In patients with a preexisting skin condition, such as DERMATITIS, the virus may cause an extensive rash of blisters called eczema herpeticum.
A child suffering an immunodeficiency disorder, such as AIDS, who is exposed to the virus may experience a severe generalized infection that can be fatal.
Other Herpes Viruses
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) A close cousin of the herpes simplex virus, the varicella-zoster virus is responsible for two other skin blistering disorders— first CHICKEN POX, and later SHINGLES (or “herpes zoster”), an acute inflammatory infection that produces painful blisters on the skin over the sites of nerves. Although shingles is most common in adults over age 50, it can occur in children who have already had chicken pox. Like the herpes simplex virus, the varicella-zoster virus can affect the eyes or the brain in addition to the skin.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) This herpes virus is associated with acute infectious MONONUCLEOSIS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease,” is spread by saliva and nasal secretions. Initial symptoms last up to 10 days and include fatigue, lethargy, and slight fever. The acute phase of the illness lasts up to another 10 days and is marked by sore throat, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, enlarged spleen and, oftentimes, a faint, pink rash over the body. The fatigue and lethargy can last longer than other symptoms.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) This herpes virus causes many diseases in humans, particularly in infants. Symptoms of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection include swollen glands, fever, and fatigue and may take the form of HEPATITIS, mild mononucleosis or, in newborns, JAUNDICE and low birth weight. In severe cases of infected infants, CMV may cause brain damage, deafness, blindness, and death.
Herpes virus 6 This virus causes ROSEOLA infantum (a fever and pale pink body rash), most common in children between ages six months and three years. Most cases trigger a fever but no rash. In older children the virus can cause mononucleosis-like symptoms. The virus and its effects on humans are still being studied.
Herpes viruses 7 and 8 These viruses and their effects on humans are still being studied.
Treatment
The most dramatic results of the use of antiviral therapy in healthy children have been seen with the use of acyclovir in the treatment of herpes. A recent survey of all causes of neonatal meningitis in England and Wales during the years 1975 to 1991 found only 10 cases that were due to herpes simplex virus among 26,090 reported cases. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend treatment of infants born to mothers with active primary or recurrent genital herpes infections unless cultures are positive or obvious symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection occur.
Infants with documented herpes simplex virus infections should be treated with acyclovir for at least 14 days and up to 21 days. Treatment varies according to the type of virus, its site, and severity. The antiviral drug acyclovir (taken internally or applied topically to the blisters) is effective in shortening the symptoms during a primary attack, and there is some indication that the drug taken prophylactically may lessen future attacks.
More than 80 known viruses exist within the herpes family. Of these, eight are known to cause disease in humans, the most common being herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. HSV1 and HSV2 look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or genitals. Usually, however, HSV1 occurs above the waist, and HSV2 below the waist. In children, HSV2 is usually associated with infections of babies who acquire the disease during birth. However, there is a certain amount of overlap between the two, and conditions usually caused by HSV2 may be caused by HSV1, and vice versa. Both types are highly infectious, spread by direct contact with the lesions or by the fluid inside the blisters.
Herpes simplex virus most commonly causes cold sores in infants and children, and genital herpes in adolescents. Herpes simplex virus is also responsible for eye infections in children and for lesions on the parts of fingers and at other sites.
Newborn Infection
A much greater concern is herpes simplex virus infection in newborn infants. The virus is most frequently transmitted to an infant from the mother during vaginal delivery or, sometimes, via ascending infection. Transmission is much more likely to occur during a vaginal birth in a mother who is having a first episode of genital herpes. In such cases, the rate of transmission may be 33 to 50 percent. Unfortunately, in most cases, infected neonates are born to women in whom neither the history nor the physical examination suggests active infection.
Herpes simplex infection in newborns can range from a local infection of the skin, eyes, and mouth to a generalized systemic infection or a localized infection of the central nervous system. Neonatal MENINGITIS is extremely rare.
Symptoms
Most children are eventually infected with HSV1. While the first infection with this virus may cause no symptoms at all, there may be a flu-like illness in addition to ulcers on the skin around the mouth; afterward, the virus remains in the nerve cells of the face. Many people experience recurrent reactivations of the virus, suffering with repeated attacks of cold sores, especially during a fever or prolonged sun exposure.
Sometimes the virus infects the finger, causing painful blisters called herpetic whitlows. In patients with a preexisting skin condition, such as DERMATITIS, the virus may cause an extensive rash of blisters called eczema herpeticum.
A child suffering an immunodeficiency disorder, such as AIDS, who is exposed to the virus may experience a severe generalized infection that can be fatal.
Other Herpes Viruses
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) A close cousin of the herpes simplex virus, the varicella-zoster virus is responsible for two other skin blistering disorders— first CHICKEN POX, and later SHINGLES (or “herpes zoster”), an acute inflammatory infection that produces painful blisters on the skin over the sites of nerves. Although shingles is most common in adults over age 50, it can occur in children who have already had chicken pox. Like the herpes simplex virus, the varicella-zoster virus can affect the eyes or the brain in addition to the skin.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) This herpes virus is associated with acute infectious MONONUCLEOSIS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease,” is spread by saliva and nasal secretions. Initial symptoms last up to 10 days and include fatigue, lethargy, and slight fever. The acute phase of the illness lasts up to another 10 days and is marked by sore throat, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, enlarged spleen and, oftentimes, a faint, pink rash over the body. The fatigue and lethargy can last longer than other symptoms.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) This herpes virus causes many diseases in humans, particularly in infants. Symptoms of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection include swollen glands, fever, and fatigue and may take the form of HEPATITIS, mild mononucleosis or, in newborns, JAUNDICE and low birth weight. In severe cases of infected infants, CMV may cause brain damage, deafness, blindness, and death.
Herpes virus 6 This virus causes ROSEOLA infantum (a fever and pale pink body rash), most common in children between ages six months and three years. Most cases trigger a fever but no rash. In older children the virus can cause mononucleosis-like symptoms. The virus and its effects on humans are still being studied.
Herpes viruses 7 and 8 These viruses and their effects on humans are still being studied.
Treatment
The most dramatic results of the use of antiviral therapy in healthy children have been seen with the use of acyclovir in the treatment of herpes. A recent survey of all causes of neonatal meningitis in England and Wales during the years 1975 to 1991 found only 10 cases that were due to herpes simplex virus among 26,090 reported cases. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend treatment of infants born to mothers with active primary or recurrent genital herpes infections unless cultures are positive or obvious symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection occur.
Infants with documented herpes simplex virus infections should be treated with acyclovir for at least 14 days and up to 21 days. Treatment varies according to the type of virus, its site, and severity. The antiviral drug acyclovir (taken internally or applied topically to the blisters) is effective in shortening the symptoms during a primary attack, and there is some indication that the drug taken prophylactically may lessen future attacks.
Tags: blisters on the sex organs, cold sores, DERMATITIS, extensive rash of blisters, genital herpes, Herpes, herpes simplex virus, herpetic whitlows, inflammatory skin conditions, spreading or creeping small clustered blisters
Posted in Health and Wellness
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