Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire; Friday November 21, 11:08 am Eastern Time
A recent US survey indicated that the number of people infected with herpes simplex virus, the virus causing genital herpes rose by an alarming 32% from 1978 to 1990(2) making genital herpes one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world.
The meeting will bring together over 450 doctors from all over the world to address the 'silent epidemic' of genital herpes:
* One in five people in the western world are infected with the virus that causes genital herpes.
* Only one in four people who have genital herpes know they've got it.
* It can be passed on unknowingly by people through sexual contact even when the symptoms are not evident.
* It's a painful, chronic condition that can ruin relationships -- and it is a life-long infection.
* It can be successfully controlled with antiviral medicines -- but three in four people diagnosed with genital herpes do not receive any treatment.
The authors of the New England Journal of Medicine paper argue that improvements in the prevention of genital herpes infection are urgently needed, particularly as genital ulcers have been implicated in aiding the transmission of HIV.
Research shows that doctors often think that genital herpes is a trivial disease(3) whereas for the people affected, genital herpes can have severe psychosocial consequences bringing feelings of fear, bitterness, shame and embarrassment.
Ann (not her real name), aged 26, a dentist in the UK, was absolutely devastated when she was recently diagnosed with genital herpes. She was infected with the virus as a result of her first sexual relationship following a break-up with her partner of seven years.
"I just couldn't believe that it had happened to me, I thought this kind of thing only happened to people who weren't careful or slept around."
"It was one of the most painful experiences I have ever had, and now I'm petrified of having another attack."
People infected with the virus which cause genital herpes suffer an average five to eight recurrent attacks every year(4).
The good news is that if genital herpes is correctly diagnosed and managed, recurrent attacks can be prevented. Antiviral treatment can prevent painful skin legions from developing, if taken at the first signs of an attack. People who suffer more frequent or severe attacks can take a continuous (preventative) course of antiviral therapy to prevent attacks from occurring in the first place.
"It is incredible that so few people with genital herpes are diagnosed and offered treatment for their condition" says IHMF spokesperson, Professor Richard Whitley of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA. "We urgently need to ensure that people recognise the symptoms of genital herpes so that doctors can offer them effective antiviral treatment."
Experts at the meeting will address the problems caused by a lack of awareness of genital herpes and its under-treatment during a controversial debate, to be held on Sunday 23 November. Experts will be asked to vote on whether education to control the spread of genital herpes is better focused on the general public or doctors.
One of the most worrying factors in the spread of genital herpes is that it can be transmitted during sexual contact when the infected person shows no signs or symptoms of an attack. This is known as 'asymptomatic shedding.' Research indicates that up to 70% of HSV-2 infections are transmitted when the infected person is asymptomatic(5).
The IHMF issued guidelines in June 1997(6) to help doctors improve the quality of life of people affected by genital herpes, but these need to be implemented world-wide. At the meeting, experts from different countries will get together to develop national plans of action ensuring that the new guidelines are implemented. The plans for implementation, which will be published following the meeting in Herpes, the journal of the IHMF, will from important blueprints for doctors on how they can better diagnose and treat genital herpes in their countries.
* There is no cure for genital herpes. It is a lifelong infection
* The symptoms of genital herpes include blisters and sores around the genitals and severe pain, especially when urinating. After the initial infection, the virus lies dormant in the body for life, and can reactivate to cause recurrent attacks. This is due to virus 'latency'-the way that the virus remains dormant in the body following initial infection. In many infected people the signs and symptoms of genital herpes, are either not recognised or not correctly diagnosed, and only about one in four people with recognised disease receive appropriate treatment. Genital herpes infection lasts for life, and can be transmitted to sexual partners even when there are no symptoms.
References
* (1) Fleming DT, McQuillan GM, et al. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in the United States, 1976 to 1994. N Engl J Med 1997;337:1105-1111
* (2) Johnson R, Lee F, Hagu A, et al. US genital herpes trends during the first decade of AIDS - prevalence increased in young whites and elevated in blacks (abstr). 10th International Society for STC Research, Helsinki, Finland, 1993
* (3) Creative Research. Herpes 1997:4:37
* (4) Corey L. the diagnosis and treatment of genital herpes. JAMA 1982;248(9);1041-1049
* (5) Mertz GJ, Benedetti J, Ashley R et al. Risk factors for the sexual transmission of genital herpes. Ann intem Med 1992;116:197-202
* (6)Corey L, Simmons A. The medical importance of genital HSV infection. IHMF Management Strategies. Herpes 1997;11
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