Herpes+1

=**__Herpes__**=
 * We selected herpes as our STD.
 * People can contract two types of herpes. Herpes simplex viruses type 2 (HSV-2), which is usually only contracted through sexual intercourse. Herpes simplex viruses 1 (HSV-1) can be contracted through contact of the mouth, face, or lips with the genitals.
 * Some symptoms of herpes are, sores, flu-like symptoms such as fever or swollen glands, and small bumps that can be confused for a bug bite.
 * Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test. Blood tests, which detect antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, can be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut.
 * It affects the mucous membranes and genitals, depending on the type.
 * HPV-1 is a cold sore, on the lips or mouthHPV-2 is genital herpes, on the genital areas
 * Cannot currently be eradicated from the body, only goes dormant
 * Daily use of antiviral medications like [|acyclovir] and [|valacyclovir] can reduce outbreaks
 * Vaccines are currently being tested; many medications can (possibly) reduce outbreaks, but cannot rid the body of the virus.
 * To prevent contraction, one should make sure all of their sexual partners are checked. The virus may lay \dormant and in some rare cases, can still spread during latency.
 * [[image:http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/897EB92A-BAF1-4E2C-B31D-597BB22F19E4/0/fig0420.gif width="335" height="245"]]
 * People with cold sores should avoid touching it, and to wash hands thoroughly and frequently. Any contact with an infected area during an outbreak can transfer the disease.
 * One out of five of the total adolescent and adult population is infected with genital herpes.
 * Infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of five).
 * Male-to-female transmission is more efficient than female-to-male transmission.
 * One in five Americans have genital herpes (yet at least 80 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it).
 * About 80 percent of American adults have oral herpes (cold sores).
 * An estimated 25 percent of American adults have genital herpes.
 * Genital herpes affects approximately one in six Australian adults
 * Approximately two-thirds of people who acquire STDs in the United States are younger than 25.1,3
 * About one in five people in the United States over age 12 (approximately 45 million individuals) are infected with HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes.
 * According to the A.H.M.F. (Australian Herpes Management Forum) genital herpes is under-diagnosed — of people with genital herpes simplex virus infection only 1 in 5 are diagnosed and, up to 80% of cases of genital herpes are not recognized as such by clinicians.
 * At least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives.
 * Up to 1 million new HSV-2 infections may be transmitted each year in the United States.1
 * Costs associated with genital herpes totaled approximately $237 million in 1994.3
 * Genital herpes infection also is more common among African Americans (45.9%) than among White Caucasian (17.6%).
 * Since the late 1970s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection has increased 30%.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">The largest increase of genital herpes is among young White teenagers.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Genital herpes infection is now five times more common in 12- to 19-year-old White adolescents.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Genital herpes is twice as common among young adults ages 20 to 29 than it was 20 years ago.