Herpes is a common virus, and it’s not something you can quickly get rid of. It’s with you for life. This virus causes small red bumps on your face, nose, mouth or other body parts.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the reason behind both HSV-1 and HSV-2 types of the infection. Both variants are highly contagious and remain in your body for life if not treated properly. With no permanent cure available for herpes, you need to manage the condition effectively to prevent it from getting worse.
Herpes can be chronic in nature.
Once you contract herpes, you get it for life. There are two types of Herpes Simplex Virus ( HSV) – HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both viruses cause similar herpes symptoms but tend to develop in different locations in the body. HSV-1 usually affects the mouth area (commonly called “cold sores”). In contrast, HSV-2 commonly affects the genitals or anal region (but can be contracted anywhere on the body).
Is There a Cure for Herpes?
The bad news is we still do not have a cure for herpes. A cure for this disease is something we can only speculate, imagine, and hope for at this stage.
Despite having no cure, there are herpes drugs that can relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission to others. However, most people can control it by avoiding the things that trigger their outbreaks. This includes avoiding stress, illness, and trauma, as well as avoiding sexual contact with new partners if you’re already infected. If you do get an outbreak, treating it with over-the-counter antiviral medication can reduce the severity of symptoms.
Why is There No Cure for Herpes?
Herpes is challenging to cure because it hides in nerve cells for months or years before appearing and reactivating. Scientists are still trying to understand the mechanism that enables the infection to hide. They are also trying to formulate a medication that case prevent this hiding mechanism.
Discovering a cure for herpes may still take up to several years. Scientists today continue to explore new ways on how to address HSV, the virus that causes herpes. Research regarding herpes has shown possibilities for gene-cutting enzymes or DNA-cutting tools to counter the disease. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) virologist Keith Jerome estimated that by 2023, there could be some progress for human trials of the herpes cure they have been working on since a few years back.