Herpes viren allgemein

Vergleich: Siehe: + Geschlechtskrankheiten + Post-herpetic neuralgia.

Wer nicht weiß, ob er als Kind schon Windpocken hatte, kann das mit einem Bluttest feststellen lassen. Frauen mit Kinderwunsch sollten dahingehend ebenfalls auf Nummer sicher gehen. Teils zahlen die Krankenkassen die Kosten dafür.

[Christina Berlinghof]

Infektionskrankheit, die durch eine Reaktivierung des Windpocken-Virus, des sogenannten Varicella-Zoster-Virus, ausgelöst wird. Das Virus gehört zur Familie der Herpes-Viren und kann sich zum Beispiel nach einer Infektion im Kindesalter lebenslang im Körper einnisten. Jeder, der bereits an Windpocken erkrankt war, kann dementsprechend auch an Herpes Zoster erkranken.

"Nach der Windpockeninfektion verbleibt das Virus in Nervenknoten und schlummert dort für viele Jahre. Wahrscheinlich wacht es zwischendurch immer mal wieder auf, wird aber durch unser Abwehrsystem in Schach gehalten", erklärt Daniela Huzly, Fachärztin für Mikrobiologie, Virologie und Infektionsepidemiologie. "Durch Einflüsse, die diese Immunabwehr herabsetzen, kann sich das Virus nach einem solchen Aufwachen ungestört vermehren und ausbreiten." Die Infektion breitet sich dann entlang der Nervenbahnen aus und landet schließlich oft an der Haut, wo es zur Bläschenbildung und Entzündungsreaktion kommt.

Erste Symptome einer Infektion sind meist Schlappheit und ziehende Schmerzen an einer Stelle des Körpers, häufig in Verbindung mit Kribbeln und Taubheitsgefühlen.

Diese Symptomatik beginnt in der Regel einige Tage bevor sich das typische Krankheitsbild einer Gürtelrose zeigt: rote Flecken und Hautausschlag an einer Körperseite.

Rote Bläschen können starke Schmerzen verursachen und ziehen sich meist wie ein Gürtel um den Rumpf.

Da die Viren auf dem Weg zur Haut Nervenzellen schädigen, entstehen häufig die typisch ziehende Nervenschmerzen. Nach Abheilen des Ausschlages können an den betroffenen Körperstellen weiterhin Nervenschmerzen auftreten, die im schlimmsten Fall Jahre anhalten.

Corona-Impfung

Frauen zeigen oft stärkere Impfreaktionen - warum ist das so?

von Nina Bürger

Aber nicht immer kommt es bei der Ausbreitung des Virus auch zu einer Hautbeteiligung. Gürtelrose im Gesicht kann besonders gefährlich werden und an Augen oder Ohren zu Erblinden oder Hörverlust führen. Ist auch das Gehirn beteiligt, droht eine Hirnhautentzündung.

"Eine frühe Diagnose und Behandlung ist sehr wichtig. Es gibt antivirale Substanzen, die gegen das Virus wirken", sagt Huzly. Um die Erkrankung wirkungsvoll zu behandeln, müsse die Therapie sofort bei der Diagnosestellung beginnen. "Es zählt jeder Tag, denn schon ab dem dritten Tag nach Beginn des Ausschlags wird die Behandlung weniger wirkungsvoll. Außerdem besteht das Risiko, dass die Schmerzen nicht weggehen oder sogar schlimmer werden und dauerhaft behandelt werden müssen", warnt die Virologin.

Nach Untersuchungen des Robert-Koch-Instituts erkranken in Deutschland jährlich mehr als 300.000 Personen an Herpes Zoster. Kommt es zu einer Schwächung des Immunsystems, zum Beispiel durch eine Impfung, kann das eingenistete Virus bei bereits Infizierten wieder aktiv werden und die Gürtelrose Auslöser.

Häufig betroffen sind Menschen über 50 Jahre, da das Immunsystem mit den Jahren abwehrschwächer wird. Aber auch jüngere Personen mit einem geschwächten Immunsystem oder Menschen mit rheumatischen Erkrankungen und alle, die immunschwächende Medikamente einnehmen, haben ein erhöhtes Risiko. "Auch übermäßiger Stress oder eine schwere Infektion, wie zum Beispiel COVID-19 kommen als Auslöser in Frage", sagt Huzly.

Im Zuge der Vierfachimpfung MMRV steht Kindern seit 2004 eine Impfung gegen Windpocken zur Verfügung, sie schützt dementsprechend auch vor Gürtelrose. Für Personen ab 50 Jahren, die im Kindesalter keine Windpocken-Impfung erhalten haben, wurde 2018 ein Herpes-Zoster-Impfstoff zugelassen. Die Ständige Impfkommission (Stiko) empfiehlt sie als Standardimpfung für alle Personen ab 60 Jahren.

Ansteckungen mit dem Varicella-Zoster-Virus sind möglich, allerdings nur über direkten Hautkontakt mit der Bläschen-Flüssigkeit. Wer nicht immun ist, also noch keine Windpocken hatte oder nicht dagegen geimpft ist, kann sich an den infektiösen Gürtelrose-Bläschen mit dem Virus anstecken und dann zunächst an Windpocken erkranken. Betroffenen Hautareale sollten deshalb bis zum Verkrusten der Bläschen gut abgedeckt werden.

Mit diesen Tipps stärken Sie Ihr Immunsystem

Jetzt ist nicht die Zeit für Tiefkühlpizza, Chips und Burger - ein starkes Immunsystem ist in Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie noch wichtiger als sonst. Wir verraten Ihnen die besten Tipps und Lebensmittel für ein starkes Immunsystem.

[Christiane Petras]

Herpes zoster (Gürtelrose = einseitig/brennen) und Folgebeschwerden (Post-Zoster-Neuralgie). Für diese Krankheit ist der begleitende Einsatz von Variolinum meistens unverzichtbar, in Kombination mit Carcinosinum oder X-Ray.

[Andy Ho]

Human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma).

‡ Eiterung/Reizblase/Zystitis; Akute Verbrühungen und Verbrennungen 2. Grades. Zur Begrenzung der

Blasenbildung und zur Schmerz linderung. Herpes labialis, rezidivierend

Dosierung: Akut alle 30 Min. 5 Tr. D10, im Intervall 1x tgl. 5 Tr. D30.

Wirkt rasch/Dauer: Mit D30 über Monate ‡

For Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 (oral and genital) the same remedies. When the sore has dried up, stop dosing. Put Calendula cream on it. or “Hypercal” or Nelson’s “Cuts and Scrapes” (Calendula tincture 0.45%/Hypericum tincture 0.45%.) should be your go-to first aid cream or lotion.

Apis. Eruptions are fluid-filled, < heat, > cold applications, pain stinging.

Nat-m. Tingly/numbness sensation preceding the outbreak.

Nat-p. Comes on after sweets, citrus or acid foods.

Rhus-t. Yellowish fluid. Burning. Better hot applications. Babies, when their whole mouth is filled with herpes sores. Yellow vesicles. Sores around the mouth. Scabs over.

Petr. Cold sores around the mouth that leave cracks or scarring with severe itching.

Merc-v. or Merc-s. Sores inside the mouth, inside the cheek, mouth ulcers.

Borx. Apthous ulcers–white fuzzy appearance. Oral candida/thrush (Merc., Nat-mur)

Ars. If Rhus tox doesn’t work, think of Arsenicum: burning pain, better hot applications.

Thuja. Chronic, recurring herpes. Herpes is part of the sycotic miasm. History of gonorrhea, vaginitis, urethritis, herpes. Tends toward vaginitis, herpes in general (in the

perineum and around the anus).

Med. Big painful blister with burning pains. Yellowish discharge. Fever, muscle aches, viral infection.

[Lilienthal]

Hints for Herpes

Agar.: Burning, itching, redness and swelling as from frost-bites; tearing pains in bones; dark-purple blotches on legs, stony hard, swollen and painful.

Sil.: Eruptions inclined to ulcerate; herpes in chin; pimples on nape of neck and mons veneris; warts on arms and hands; skin very sensitive; panaritia.

Thuj.: Herpes zoster (all over body from suppressed gonorrhoea), itching and burning violently; white, scaly, dry, mealy herpes; eruptions only on covered parts, burning violently when scratched; <: at night/cold water/heat of bed; >: gentle rubbing;

Rumx.: Eruptions from wearing flannel, vesicular; (<) when uncovered and exposed to cool air, as when undressing. camp – itch.

Rhus-t.: R. in herpes zoster, with incessant itching, burning, tingling, pains # in chest and dysenteric stools; herpes upon hairy parts, more annoying after perspiration;

<: in winter;

Ran-b.: Herpes zoster supraorbitalis and intercostalis, with sharp, stitching pains (Mez.); vessels filled with a thin, acrid fluid; burning, itching vesicles in clusters; herpes

over fingers, palms of hands; finally all over the body, <: touch/motion/change of temperature/on entering a cold place; for drunkards.

Phos.: Herpes in persons inclined to pulmonary ailments; scabby, dry herpes on face, dry and furfuraceous herpes; rhagades, with excoriation of skin; burning pains,

compelling change of position; brown colored blisters between fingers and toes, exceedingly sensitive to cold air..

Olnd.: Herpes and ulcers on and around the ears, oozing; gnawing itching; vesicles on thighs; skin sensitive and sore.

Nit-ac.: Blackness of the pores of skin; herpes in whiskers, between fingers, on alae nasi; herpes on outer side of thigh; pimples or small warts; itching (in bends of limbs); tongue dry and fissured; <: open air/on change of weather/from contact; >: lying down/in cold air;

Mez.: Herpes zoster, following intercostal or supraorbital nerve with sharp with sharp stitching, lightning-like pains, sometimes boring, leaving the parts numb, <: in bed/touch; vesicles form a brownish scab; neuralgic pains continue for some time after disappearance of herpes.

Mang-met.: Herpes on forearm, skin unhealthy, every injury tends to suppurate; excoriations, soreness and fissures of the bends of joints; burning itching; lancinating pains;

<: from touch/lying on a feather-bed;

Iris-v.: Herpes following gastric derangement; pain in liver; herpes zoster (r.); fine eruption, showing black points after scratching, great itching at night.

Com.: Herpes zoster; vesicular, pustular, ulcerative eruption on legs; violent itching-burning redness and swelling of face, and other parts of body, followed by yellow vesication and desquamation of cuticle.

Ars.: Herpes labialis, facialis, phlyctenoides, furfuraceous; herpes zoster; ringworm on scalp, which is dry and rough, hair falling out in patches. Confluent herpetic eruptions with intense burning of the blisters, dry and parchment-like skin;

Phytologie:

• Bittersüß (Solanum dulcamara)

• Sarsaparilla (Smilax sarsaparilla)

• Blasentang (Fucus vesiculosus)

• Schachtelhalm (Equisetum arvense)

• Bohnenkraut (Satureja hortensis, S. montana)

• Seifenkraut (Saponaria officinalis)

• Brombeere (Rubus fruticosus), Blätter

• Simaruba (Simaruba amara)

• Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia)

• Stiefmütterchen (Viola tricolor)

• Himbeere (Rubus idaeus)

• Storchschnabel (Geranium robertianum)

• Klette (Arctium lappa)

• Ulme (Ulmus campestris)

• Melisse (Melissa officinalis)

• Ysop (Hyssopus officinalis)

• Muskateller-Salbei (Salvia sclarea)

• Zypresse (Cupressus sempervirens)

• Pfaffenhütchen (Euonymus europaea)

Herpes simplex = Griebe

“eingeengt”

Komplementär: Nat-m.

Hessels Grippetropfen (zur unterstützenden Behandlung von viralen Infekten und Herpes simplex);

Vergleich: Arginin (fördert Herpes simplex/enthalten in Haselnüsse/Walnüsse/Mandeln/ Paranüsse/andere Nüsse/Cacao). Staphylococcus aureus (besiedelt Haut in

Impetigo/oft verbunden mit Herpes simplex).

Siehe: Nosoden allgemein

Antidotiert von: Caust. Lys. Kaffee,

Aeth-a.: Herpetic eruptions on the skin, moist in nature.

Alnus rubra: [Dr. P. Rajagopalarao, Boericke, Clarke] Ø - 3C/ulcerated mucus membranes of mouth and throat and indigestion from insufficient gastric secretion.

Wirkung: Aphrodisisch/carcenoid

Phytologie: Honig 3x täglich aufbringen/Stellen mit Tempo abtrocknen und wegwerfen. Stellen sind noch 10 Tage nach Aufbrechen ansteckend

Herpes 2LHERP (RNA & DNA complex) = 2LHERP Nucleic Acid Complex No.16 By Labo'Life (30 Capsules) (LaboLife)

in preventing recurrences of genital herpes.

I usually combine most MicroImmunotherapy treatments with the constitutional remedy. For genital herpes I always prescribe 2LHERP for preventing recurrences

and advise external tea tree oil during any outbreaks. If there is also candida I often prescribe tea tree oil orally - 1 drop placed on a piece of sugar and swallowed.

Dreitagefieber = “roseola infantum”/= “sixth disease”.

Krankheit: 6e - 24e Monat, 3 Tage Unruhe/Bauchweh/Fieber continua/Fieberkrämpfe/nach Fieberabfall Hautausschlag beginnend im Nacken/ohne Beschwerden/spart Gesicht aus;

Antidotiert von: Lach. (Fieber continua). Acon. (unruhig/verlangt Kuhle/Exanthem hellrot wie bei Scharlach). Bell. (ergeben/verlangt Wärme/Ausschlag rot wie Masern).

Ferr-p. (WohlBEfinden/hellrotes Exanthem)

Eppstein bar o. Pfeiferisches Drüsenfieber

Herpes zoster = Gürtelrose

Vergleich: Vario. (hat gleiche Verursacher wie Herpes zoster). Niedrige Prolaktinspiegel. Spenglersan (G, R, T.)

Siehe: Nosoden allgemein

[Christiane Petras]

Herpes zoster (Gürtelrose) und Folgebeschwerden (Post-Zoster-Neuralgie). Für diese Krankheit ist der begleitende Einsatz von Variolinum meistens

unverzichtbar, in Kombination mit Carcinosinum oder X-Ray.

Komplementär: Nat-m.

Antidotiert von: Dol. Vario.

Krankheit:

Arg-n. (Schleimhäute/Haut/Knochen/Periost) herpetischen Kranken

Ars. brüllendes Brennen nachts

Canth. wütendes Brennen/große Blasen

Caust. ätzende Verbrennungsschmerz

Mez. wellenartiges Brennen/“Wie verbrüht“/< nachts

Merc. specific for relieving the burning, and preventing the appearance of new crops. Right side, ext. across the abdomen

Prun. Entzündung im Augenbereich/Hornhaut/Regenbogenhaut/übler SCHMERZ

Ran-b. stechendes, juckendes Brennen/Bläschen im Rippenbereich

Rhus-t. brennender Juckreiz/> Kratzen/Wärme/Bewegung/< nachts

[Tyler]

Apis: Burning , stinging pain, large vesicles, ulcerates, starts in cold weather, < warmth, > cold application.

Ars. Intense burning blisters, nausea , prostration, < cold, > warmth. < after midnight.

Mez. With severe neuralgic pains, itches after scratching, brown scab forms, < from touch.

Ran-b. Vesicles filled with thin acrid fluid. Neuralgic pain (intercostals). < touch/motion/after eating.

Rhus-t. Probably no remedy more often found useful. Especially after getting wet.

Vario. Burnett said Varolinum has wiped out the condition, pain and all.

[Lilienthal]

Agar.: Burning, itching, redness and swelling as from frost-bites; tearing pains in bones; dark-purple blotches on legs, which are of a stony hardness, swollen and painful.

Sil.: Eruptions inclined to ulcerate; herpes in chin; pimples on nape of neck and mons veneris; warts on arms and hands; skin very sensitive; panaritia.

Thuj: herpes all over body from suppressed gonorrhoea, itching and burning violently; white, scaly, dry, mealy herpes; eruptions only on covered parts, burning violently when scratched;

<: at night/cold water/heat of bed/; >: gentle rubbing;

Rumx.: Eruptions from wearing flannel, vesicular; <: uncovered/exposed to cool air/undressing; camp – itch.

Rhus-t.: Right side, with incessant itching, burning, tingling # with pains in chest and dysenteric stools; herpes upon hairy parts, more annoying after perspiration; < in winter

Ran-b.: Supraorbitalis and intercostalis, with sharp, stitching pains (Mez.); vessels filled with a thin, acrid fluid; burning, itching vesicles in clusters; herpes over fingers, palms of hands;

finally all over the body, <: from touch/motion/change of temperature/entering a cold place; for drunkards.

Phos.: Herpes in persons inclined to pulmonary ailments ; scabby, dry herpes on face, dry and furfuraceous herpes; rhagades, with excoriation of skin; burning pains, compelling change

of position; brown colored blisters between fingers and toes, exceedingly sensitive to cold air..

Olnd.: Herpes and ulcers on and around the ears, oozing; gnawing itching; vesicles on thighs; skin sensitive and sore.

Nit-ac.: Blackness of the pores of skin; herpes in whiskers, between fingers, on alae nasi; herpes on outer side of thigh; pimples or small warts; itching (bends of extremities); tongue dry

and fissured; <: in open air/on change of weather/from contact; >: on lying down/in cold air;

Mez.: following intercostal or supraorbital nerve with sharp stitching, lightning-like pains, sometimes boring leaving the parts numb, <: in bed/from touch; vesicles form a brownish scab;

neuralgic pains continue for some time after disappearance of herpes.

Mang-met.: Herpes on forearm, skin unhealthy, every injury tends to suppurate; excoriations, soreness and fissures of the bends of joints; burning itching; lancinating pains;

<: from touch/lying on a feather-bed;

Iris.: at night/herpes following gastric derangement; pain in liver; herpes zoster (r.); fine eruption, showing black points after scratching, great itching at night.

Com.: Herpes zoster; vesicular, pustular, ulcerative eruption on legs; violent itching-burning redness and swelling of face, and other parts of body, followed by yellow vesication and

desquamation of cuticle.

Ars.: Herpes labialis, facialis, phlyctenoides, furfuraceous; herpes zoster; ringworm on scalp, which is dry and rough, hair falling out in patches. Confluent herpetic eruptions with intense

burning of the blisters, dry and parchment-like skin;

Propolis

Vorbeugend: Ran-b.

Bösartig: Com.

----------- + brennen: Gali-a

Allerlei:

The herpes family of viruses consists of more than 80 distinct types of viruses that are found in nearly every kind of animal that has been investigated

On going research is trying to find out whether herpes viruses cause some or all of many diseases, alone or in conjunction with other factors, or whether they occur in a secondary association

with other causes. Determining the cause of many such diseases is more difficult than it seems, because so many factors show up together when disease symptoms appear.

Overview of the 9 Types of Herpes Viruses Found in Humans:

Herpes simplex virus - Type 1 HSV-1; fever blisters/cold sores of the face, mouth, and lips

Human Herpes Virus-1, HHV-1: fever blisters/cold sores of the face, mouth, and lips/occur via breaks in the skin barrier around the mouth or elsewhere

Herpes simplex-1 causing cold sores and possibly spreading to the genital region/now linked with the development of serious neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s

disease, Bell’s palsy and trigeminal neuralgia.

Recent research also shows that coinfection by HSV-1 and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can enhance the activity of both viruses in AIDS and non-genital

herpes lesions. HSV-1 infects about 50% of the population.

Herpes simplex virus - Type 2 (HSV-2; also Human Herpes Virus-2, HHV-2).

This type is the usual cause of genital herpes, which is classified as a sexually transmitted disease. HSV-2 reached epidemic status in the 1980s and 1990s (increased

incidence among teenagers). In the world of virus classification, HSV-2 and HSV-1 are nearly indistinguishable except for their different clinical symptoms.

However, even these differences are inconsistent, since both types of herpes simplex can cause oral and genital herpes outbreaks.

Herpes zoster virus (HZV; also Varicella zoster virus, VZV, and Human Herpes Virus-3, HHV-3). Chickenpox results from a first-time infection by HZV. When this

virus recurs later in a person’s life, it causes shingles = Herpes zoster. As the average age of our population increases, more and more people are suffering recurring bouts

of postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain) as a result of shingles. This herpes virus is considered to be the most infectious of the known herpes viruses. More than 90% of the

population is infected. HZV has been linked to the autoimmune disease called lupus. Furthermore, HZV outbreaks, which are now epidemic among people with AIDS,

are often the earliest indicator of HIV infection.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV; also, Human Herpes Virus-4, HHV-4). The major cause of infectious mononucleosis (‘kissing disease’), EBV may also be the leading culprit

in causing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other disorders of the immune system. EBV has also been linked with lupus, lymphomas, and other cancers.

This virus is now considered to be quite damaging and mutagenic in the body. Around 75% of the population will test positive for EBV.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV; also, Human Herpes Virus-5, HHV-5). CMV can cause mononucleosis and hepatitis and it can also be sexually transmitted.

Recent research suggests that CMV has a role, in conjunction with other types of viruses, in turning on cancer genes. The occurrence of CMV is strongly correlated with

vascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.Even though it is generally asymptomatic, CMV may turn out to be a key factor in the development

and progression of heart and blood vessel disease, the leading killer in all developed nations. CMV infects about 60% of adults, even more common among homosexual

men and is associated with AIDS.

Human herpes viruses - Types 6, 7, 8 and 9 (HHV6, HHV7, HHV8, and HHV9, respectively). All HHVs are associated with disorders of the immune system (AIDS).

HHV8 is also called Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated human herpes virus (KSHV), which causes a type of skin cancer that occurs most often in people with AIDS.

The recent discovery of new HHVs in people with AIDS suggests that there are more to be found. New types of these herpes viruses are probably evolving every year.

HHV-6 and HHV-7, both found in about 90% of the population, are two closely related viruses that are relatively new discoveries and are considered to be “universal”

herpes viruses.

Infection with HHV-6 during childhood causes “roseola infantum” = Drei-Tagen-fieber a.k.a. “sixth disease”.

HHV-6 has recently been linked with the development of MS. Herpes viruses can occur without symptoms in nerve ganglia, which are at the bases of nerve cells near

the spine or throughout the face. In these locations the viruses are seemingly in. They remain at this stage until something triggers them to move up the nerve fibers,

enter healthy skin cells, and cause sores. Typically, a familiar pain or itching precedes the formation of sores, signifying an oncoming outbreak that will result in the

well-known fever blisters. Sores do not always appear, though, especially in HZV infections. Internal blooms of HZV can instead cause unpleasant or even stabbing

pains in nerves around the waist or spine.

HSV and HZV are trickier than most viruses because they are latent for long periods of time and because they can travel from one cell to another without ever leaving

the internal environment of the cell. Both of these properties enable herpes viruses to escape notice by our immune system, at least until they burst out of the cells they

have just killed and attract the attention of our antibodies. This is why our immune system is helpful in fighting herpes outbreaks but is incapable of entirely eliminating

herpes viruses from our bodies.

As you can see, herpes aren’t just nuisance diseases like once thought. New research links herpes viruses not only to the well-known diseases like cold “Herpes viruses

are universal in all animals/humans. The six most prevalent human herpes viruses infect 50% or greater of the global population. Actually, these numbers are low estimates

since they are based on findings in serum. which can produce false negative results. Data source: Leicester University (U.K.) Microbiology Department” sores, genital

herpes and shingles, but to even more serious human diseases such as: heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

This new link is supported by the fact that all herpes viruses set-up life-long (latent) infections in people. The old logic held that, since people were not visibly sick most

of the time with herpes virus diseases, these viruses must be “sleeping” during most of our lives and therefore were not dangerous to our health. New research tools and

techniques that can examine our bodies in much greater detail paint a much different picture. It appears that herpes viruses are not actually “sleeping” at all.

They are very active in the parts of the body that they inhabit, inflicting constant, cumulative damage to critical organs in our bodies as they replicate at a low level

throughout our lives. This damage begins early in our lives, at a low enough level to not produce any noticeable symptoms in generally healthy individuals.

Herpes viruses are very sensitive to their environment. In a young person with a healthy immune system, they will attack at a very low level to avoid large-scale

activation of the immune system, which could deliver a damaging blow to the herpes viruses. When the herpes viruses sense that stress, aging, cancer or physical injury

has weakened the body, they accelerate their attack, just as they do if they sense that the immune system is preoccupied fighting off another infection, such as a cold or flu.

This is why symptomatic herpes outbreaks often follow another illness like a severe flu, a physical injury such as surgery, or periods of emotional stress. This new way of

viewing herpes viruses is important that will affect everyone’s health since herpes viruses are universal factors in human health. The medical data are very clear.

Virtually 100% of the human population carries at least one herpes virus. The data also show that the majority of the human population is harboring at least five herpes

virus infections.

The vast literature on herpes research underscores the challenge of understanding how this family of viruses affects our immune system. Several dozen complications

are already known to be associated with herpes infections of different types, and more are being discovered each year. Many such complications, such as post-herpetic

neuralgia, do not respond to antiviral treatments and can drag on for months or years after the initial infection has subsided.

“Everybody probably has herpes viruses, usually of multiple types.” They are very contagious and opportunistic, but about 60% of us have strong immunity to them.

So the puzzle is, given that everyone can harbor herpes viruses all of the time, why do only some people have outbreaks? Or what causes herpes outbreaks?

Unfortunately, nobody has satisfactory answers to these questions. But, although the factors that trigger herpes outbreaks are largely unknown, we do have few good clues.

One clue comes from the observation that physical trauma to nerve cells, such as from a surgeon’s scalpel, will activate herpes viruses. Another clue is that herpes outbreaks

are associated with several kinds of stress (cold temperatures/injury/synthetic drugs/cancer/allergies/depression/infections/unhappiness/anxiety/too much sunlight)

Herpes zoster with people over 60/Patients whose immune systems are suppressed by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and drugs used after organ transplants, by AIDS

or other immunosuppressive disorders, are especially susceptible to herpes outbreaks. Indeed, herpes infections in immunosuppressed patients are the most severe, leading to

pneumonia, liver disease, CMV retinitis, and other serious complications that can be fatal. Smoking, poor nutrition, and recreational drug use cause stress that is detrimental to

our immune system. Hard exercise, injury, surgery, and UV radiation in sunlight and in tanning Booths, aging all slow down our ability to make the principal infection-fighting

cells of the immune system. These stresses and how they affect our susceptibility to infection constitute a topic worthy of a separate book.

Vorwort/Suchen. Zeichen/Abkürzungen. Impressum.