What causes herpes simplex? It is important to take good prevention measures

Herpes simplex is a common skin disease, and the contagious rate of this skin disease is very high. It is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus. If a pregnant woman suffers from herpes simplex, she should choose a caesarean section to prevent the fetus from being infected through the birth canal.

1. Causes

Herpes is a common and ancient infectious skin disease. Related records can be found as early as ancient Greece. In the 18th century, the existence of genital herpes was noticed clinically. After the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution led to dense population and large-scale population mobility, which increased the chances of spreading herpes through general contact and sexual contact, leading to an increase in the incidence of herpes diseases. Doctors gradually realized its infectiousness and sexual transmission routes, and later discovered that the herpes virus has the characteristics of latent infection.

The herpesviridae family is divided into three subfamilies: α, β, and γ, including 114 members. They have certain host specificity and infect humans or other animals respectively. Currently, human herpesvirus includes at least 8 members.

The pathogen of herpes simplex is human herpes simplex virus, which in virus taxonomy belongs to the alpha subfamily of the human herpesviridae family and the genus herpes simplex virus. It is divided into two subtypes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. The HSV-1 subtype mainly invades the parts above the waist, especially the face, brain tissue, etc.; while the HSV-2 subtype mainly invades the parts below the waist, especially the genitals, etc., so it is called genital herpes; but this distinction is not strict.

2. Herpes simplex prevention

Newborns, people with weakened immune function, and patients with chronic skin diseases such as eczema should avoid contact with patients with this disease as much as possible. Pregnant women with genital herpes should undergo cesarean section to avoid birth canal infection of the baby. Patients with genital herpes should avoid sexual intercourse and avoid magnetic therapy to reduce its spread. For recurrent vulvar herpes, regular cervical smear examinations should be performed to detect cervical cancer at an early stage.

When patients with herpes simplex appear in childcare institutions, they should be advised to be isolated at home and can only return home after treatment is cured. Pregnant women with genital herpes should have cesarean section, and pregnant women with a recent history of genital herpes should have amniotic fluid samples drawn for testing of IgM HSV antibodies. A positive result indicates that the fetus has suffered intrauterine infection. The patient couple can discuss whether to consider using 0.1% eye drops, and isolate the baby from the mother to avoid breastfeeding until the mother recovers. During the waiting period and postpartum observation in the hospital, the mother and her newborn should be isolated from other mothers and newborns.

Adhere to the premarital physical examination system, avoid sexual behavior with multiple sexual partners, and promote safe sex; when necessary, use condoms during sexual intercourse to help control or reduce the prevalence of genital herpes infection. Use acyclovir immediately after organ transplantation (including bone marrow transplantation). For patients with frequent recurrences of herpes, try to remove or avoid the inducing factors. The above measures are all helpful in preventing the occurrence of herpes simplex infection or the onset of the original latent infection. At present, the vaccine for the prevention of herpes simplex has entered the clinical trial stage.