Okay, I'm not quite sure if I have herpes or not, I've never done anything sexual, I've kissed one girl on the lips once. Never done anything else. And I recently started to shave my pubic hairs and after I started getting these red bumps were the hair grows. Please help, I'm so stressed out about this. I'm only fourteen and haven't done anything, could these just be ingrown hairs? And if it helps, I only have a few bumps.

It's definitely ingrown hairs. I promise you. I get those all the time. Next time, don't shave. Use a beard trimmer to trim the hair instead.

Chickenpox was once considered a rite of passage for most children. The red, itchy rash is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is part of a group of viruses called herpesviruses. Because chickenpox is so contagious, 90% of a patient’s family also will develop the illness if they live in the same house and are not already immune. About one of every 100 children infected with chickenpox will develop a severe lung infection (pneumonia), an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or a problem with the liver. Adolescents and adults who develop chickenpox are also at high risk of developing serious complications. After a person has chickenpox, the virus typically lives silently in the nervous system of the body for the rest of a person’s life. It may reactivate (come to life again) at any time when the body’s immune defenses are weakened by stress or illness (such as cancer or HIV infection) or by medications that weaken the immune system. Reactivation of the virus causes a condition called shingles, a painful blistering skin rash that typically occurs on the face, chest or back, in the same area where one or two of the body’s sensory nerves travel.

Causes of Chicken Pox

The common Causes of Chicken Pox :

Herpes Zoster Virus

Poor immune system

Inhaling airborne droplets

Persistent wrong feeding of children:

Contact with broken chickenpox blisters

Symptoms of Chicken Pox

Some Symptoms of Chicken Pox :

Fever.

Decreased appetite

Weakness.

Fatigue.

Mild headache.

Abdominal pain or loss of appetite.

Low-grade fever.

Rash on the upper chest or back.

Cough or runny nose

Itchy rash on the trunk, face, under the armpits, on the upper arms and legs, and inside the mouth

Treatment of Chicken Pox

Antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.

Bedrest.

Increased fluid intake (to prevent dehydration).

Calamine lotion (to relieve itching).

Antiviral drugs (for severe cases) .

Cool baths with baking soda or Aveeno (to relieve itching) .

Acetaminophen for fever (DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN).

Juliet Cohen
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/chicken-pox-causes-symptoms-information-with-treatment-225146.html

Herpes sores caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type I and II. HSV I causes cold sores while type II causes genital herpes.
Although these infections are as old as mankind, there is no known cure. It takes up to 14 days to heal.

Once the virus enters your body, it remains there until it is triggered by either, sunlight, emotional stress, fatigue, menstruation, foods rich in acid such as pineapple and lemons,.

Herpes sores could be caused by having too much  amino acids arginine in your diet. These may include, chocolates, peanuts, cashew nuts., beer, cereals, gelatin etc. It is therefore advisable to avoid the above foods.
However, having a diet rich in lysine (which is good for healthy tissue in your mouth) could help prevent these sores. These may include, meat, fish, brewer’s yeast, legumes, dairy products and wheat germ.

Herpes sores are very contagious and you should take care not to be infected or infect others if you have it. When you get infected with a cold sore, you can apply lip balm on the sore to keep it soft and quicken the healing process. You can also apply sunscreen on your lips to protect them from sun exposure.

It does not mean that your social life has stopped because you have a herpes sore. However, it is advisable to  avoid kissing and oral sex. Oral sex could give your partner genital herpes. This is because the virus in your cold sore is highly contagious. You might also want to avoid sharing of utensils, lip balm and facial towels.

Herpes sores really love those with a weak immune system. Those suffering from AIDS are at a high risk of contracting this contagious infection.
Eating a healthy diet should ensure that your immune system is at its best.

Mercy Maranga
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/sores-herpes-600834.html

How long after sexual intercourse do you experience symptoms of herpes?

It could be a matter of days or some lucky people never have symptoms.

Varicella zoster is a virus that is part of the herpes family. This virus is responsible for some disease, the most known of all being chicken pox. This condition is more common in children, but adults can develop chicken pox as well. Chicken pox only strikes once in a persons life and it is best that this happens when you are a child. This condition is also highly contagious.

The incubation period of chicken pox is about two weeks. In this time your child will have no chicken pox symptoms. After the two weeks have passed, the first chicken pox signs will actually be symptoms very similar to those of the flu. A mild fever, some coughing and loss of appetite are the first chicken pox symptoms. Unfortunately, many of us do not realize that there are actually telling us that our child suffers from chicken pox. Precisely in this period, children are the most contagious. After a couple of days, chicken pox rash starts to appear on your child’ s body. The first areas that are usually affected by chicken pox are the back and the chest. The chicken pox rash is at first just some tiny red and itchy spots, that will turn into blisters in a couple of day’ s time. The blisters are filled with fluid and they will speared very quickly on the rest of your child’ s body. There are chicken pox cases, where the child has only a few such blisters, but usually he/ she will have at least three hundred

chicken pox blisters. These then turn into crusts and then scab just a few days later.

Chicken pox treatment is mainly aimed at relieving the symptoms that your child has. Itching, which is one of the chicken pox trade marks can be relieved with antihistamines or with oatmeal or baking soda baths. If fever is also a chicken pox symptom that you child is has, then ipubrofen must be given to the chicken pox patient. Do not give your child aspirin, because it can increase the risk of developing Reye’ s syndrome. Antiviral drugs may also be prescribed in chicken pox cases.

Another great thing is that now a chicken pox vaccine is available. This vaccine will not prevent your child from developing chicken pox, however it will make the chicken pox case a lot milder and it will also help prevent some of the chicken pox complications.

For more information about chicken pox vaccine or even about adult chicken pox please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/chicken-pox-symptoms-and-treatment-131455.html

There are many things which are considered to be taboo subjects to discuss openly in public. One such topic is that of genital herpes. The fact is that most people will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid these subjects but in some cases this can be detrimental to the health of the person.

The person who suffers from genital herpes though will sometimes find their lives turned upside down and unable to cope with the situation. It need not be this way, but unfortunately sometimes the emotional impact genital herpes can have on a person can be greater than the actual medical condition itself.

This is not to say that genital herpes isn’t serious or a potentially serious condition, only that some people will find they need more help to cope with the emotional trauma of having contracted a sexually transmitted disease than others will.

For these people care needs to be given not only to treat the physical condition but also the mental and emotional health of the person.

This can come about as the result of many things such as being rejected by their partner for having a sexually transmitted disease, being unable to cope with the reality of genital herpes, or being unable to deal with any residual scarring of the genital area.

Although for the most part genital herpes blisters will cure themselves, there may sometimes be scarring as a result of the blisters. This can be due to the severity and the spread of the blisters themselves.

To help with the pain which may be felt with genital herpes blisters you might want to try bathing the affected area in a salt solution comprising of half a teaspoon of salt mixed with half a pint of warm water. This will not only soothe the affected area but it also has the added benefits of drying out the sores.

You might also want to avoid such things as tanning beds and sunbathing. Avoid wearing tight fitting clothing which won’t allow your genital area to breathe.

If you find that urinating is painful due to the urine passing over the sores, you can either pour water over yourself as you urinate, or you can try to urinate within a bath of water.

What you really need to do though when you have genital herpes is get plenty of rest. You body needs it and now is as a good a time as any to start listening to it.

Krishan Bakhru
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/genital-herpes-122342.html

Just as it is possible for a baby to have a yeast infection, so is it possible for yeast infection symptom in man to exist. Many people are under the impression that only women can experience a yeast infection in their genital region. Although it is true that women are far more likely to develop these yeast infections, thinking a man cannot develop a genital yeast infection is a misconception that needs to be dispelled.

Men, like women have candida present in their gut. A candida overgrowth, better known as candidasis, is simply the fancy way of saying yeast infection. For instance, oral thrush, and many skin rashes and infections such as athlete’s foot are all forms of yeast infections that are linked to candida. Thus, genital yeast infections are an infection caused by candida overgrowth and other contributing factors.

What are the other causes aside from candida? Unlike oral thrush yeast infection symptom in man - often caused by HIV - A yeast infection that affects the genital region, known as a penile yeast infection, can be caused by different factors. Some of these factors may include the following -

Sexual transmission - If a man has unprotected sex with a woman, who has a vaginal yeast infection, candida can be transmitted from her to him through direct contact, just like a sexually transmitted disease. Although this isn’t entirely a common occurrence, it can and does happen more frequently than one would think.

Antibiotics - It is really uncommon for a penile yeast infection symptom in man to develop from antibiotics, but it is not impossible. Antibiotics are considered candida friendly because they destroy good bacteria and bad bacteria, creating an imbalance in gut flora which can result in candida overgrowth and lead to infection.

Diabetes - Men who have diabetes are at a greater risk of developing yeast infections due to the fact that they have elevated sugar levels in their urine.

What are the symptoms? The following are some of the penile yeast infection symptom in man to look for:

• Irritation and soreness present in the head of the penis, often accompanied by itchiness.

• The head of the penis may appear red and develop small blisters

• Presence of discharge that appears thick and white

• Little red itchy bumps may appear on the penis shaft or surrounding genital area if a yeast infection is left untreated.

If a man is experiencing these symptoms, it is important that he visit his doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. There are two main reasons why a professional diagnosis is important -
1.If a man does not treat a yeast infection, he can pass it back to his partner, and she can continue to pass it back to him. Both sexual partners should be treated to eradicate the threat of infection.

2. Although a man may think he is suffering a yeast infection, in actuality his symptoms may be the cause of an entirely different medical condition- genital herpes. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is characterized by little itchy bumps, and is a chronic disease that can not be treated with the same remedies as a yeast infection.

Hence, always have symptoms investigated by a health care provider to be sure, and refrain from self-diagnosis.

How is a penile yeast infection symptom in man treated? In most cases it is treated with the same topical cream prescribed to women with vaginal yeast infections. These creams are available without a doctor’s prescription at your local pharmacy. Just remember, that if you’ve never experienced a penile yeast infection before, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor, get checked out, and take his treatment advice to experience effective relief.

Jane Symms
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-are-the-yeast-infection-symptoms-in-a-man-125444.html

What is the Main Herpes Indication

Herpes is a disease that is responsible for eruptions of sores on the skin. There are several of the virus, and every strain causes a similar but different type of outbreak.

There are 2 main types that are the most frequently experienced. The first strain of herpes is herpes simplex 1 which will affect parts of the body above the waist. The outbreaks mainly occur on the inside and outside of the mouth.

Herpes Transmission

The other dominant member of the herpes family is the herpes simplex 2 virus which is also referred to as HSV 2. It is this herpes family member that and affects the pubic areas as well as the buttocks and lower back. We will be talking about the type of outbreaks this virus causes in greater detail a little further on.

Herpes simplex 1 is the mildest form of the herpes virus. The outbreaks are cold sores, or fever blisters, that are found inside or outside the mouth. This disease is (transmittable and incurable. The way to pass this disease is by the contact with the lesions. This virus can also result in genital herpes, but it is generally located around the mouth.

This is known as oral herpes. These lesions erupt when the immune system is weakened or stressed. Thus the name fever blisters, or cold sores, refer to these lesions occurring around the time a cold appears.

Herpes simplex 2 is the most commonly talked about form of herpes. HSV 2 is passed through sexual activity. The blisters that occur from this strain are similar to cold sores; The HSV 2 virus as a rule causes most concern. It is spread sexually. Although the blisters from herpes simplex 2 look the same as cold sores they only normally appear in the pubic region.

Genital herpes (the blisters) in males will make their appearance on the penis shaft, the anus, the buttocks and even on the inner thighs and lower back. Woman will see the blisters appearing over the whole of the pubic area, including the anus and buttocks. Sometimes the outbreak is that mild that a torch or flashlight is used during the examination.

So what do herpes sores look like? Sometimes herpes simply manifests as reddening of the affected area. You also may fee feverish and even have some flu like aches and pains. A discharge from the penis or vagina also often occurs.

That first herpes outbreak will always be the worst! Expect to suffer from swollen lymph glands and flu systems apart from the the eruptions. Subsequent outbreaks will inevitably be less severe:shorter in length and not as acute and could happen about 5 times a year. This obviously will depend on the state of your immune system and how much stress you have in your life.

John Currie
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/herpes-the-most-significant-symptom-86616.html

To most people the word “herpes” conjures up an image of genital herpes, the incurable virus that is transmitted through sexual contact and causes blisters on the genitals. However herpes is in fact a family of viruses that is extremely widespread and can cause a number of conditions affecting the skin, mouth, eyes, brain or, in rare cases, the whole body.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 6 people may carry some form of the herpes virus in their body, either active or inactive.

Forms of the herpes virus include herpes simplex type 1 (cold sores), herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), cytomegalovirus (mild hepatitis), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and herpes-zoster (shingles). All of these conditions are caused by viruses in the herpes family.

Two similar conditions, herpes gestationis and dermatitis herpetiformis, both produce herpes-like blisters on the skin but are not related to or caused by any of the various herpes viruses.

The many diseases that are caused by the herpes virus may differ widely from one another, but they all share
a few common traits:

They are generally very contagious.

The viruses can survive in latent form for long periods of time after the initial infection.

They are not curable. (However, there are effective treatments that can render the virus dormant, even in genital herpes)
Estimates suggest that nearly 30 million Americans are infected with herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and despite many studies over many years there has been little success in developing either a cure or an effective vaccine.

Many of the viruses in the herpes family do not recur after the initial disease outbreak, such as chicken pox for example. However all herpes viruses, when not active, remain dormant in your body, hidden in nerve tissues and escaping detection by the immune system.

It is unsure exactly how and why a latent herpes virus will suddenly trigger into an active infection, however it is known that certain stresses to the immune system appear to bring on an outbreak. These stresses that may lead to outbreaks include illness, injury, emotional stress, poor diet, over exposure to sunlight, and even menstruation.

A strong immune system seems to lessen recurrence of outbreaks, though outbreaks may continue throughout life. Studies show that chickenpox and shingles have a recurrence of nearly zero while HSV-1 has a recurrence rate of 14 percent and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) has a recurrence rate of 60 percent.

It is HSV-2 that most commonly causes genital infections, and HSV-1 that most commonly causes infections of the lips; however either viruses can be passed from one location to the other.

Studies have also shown that herpes sores can also provide an entryway for other infections.
Women with the herpes virus may even have an increased risk of cervical cancer and it is important for any women who has had herpes to have a cervical smear test (Pap test) every one or two years.

Whether you have been diagnosed with some form of herpes or not, practicing common sense prevention can go a long way in controlling the spread of herpes. For instance, avoid kissing persons who currently have sores on their mouth or lips.
Always practice safe sex in non-monogamous relationships and avoid all sexual contact with any partner who is exhibiting symptoms of an active outbreak of genital herpes until symptoms have disappeared. While most, but not all, male genital herpes outbreaks are easily detected, female genital herpes outbreaks can many times go completely unnoticed. In fact, many women with genital herpes don’t realize they have contracted the virus until they have passed it on to a partner.

Using a condom may or may not prevent the spread of the herpes virus from one partner to another, whether one partner has an active outbreak or not; So while using condoms may be better than no protection at all, you should be aware that even condoms are not 100% effective in protecting against the transmission of the herpes virus.

If you have a history of herpes, avoid getting overtired or allowing yourself to get run down. When you are fatigued, your immune system cannot function as well, and you may be more vulnerable to a recurrence of herpes.

If you suspect you might have some form of the herpes virus or if you have a partner that has herpes, please see your local health care provider for a diagnosis and medical advise.

John Trout
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/herpes-virus-family-facts-79351.html

The herpes simplex virus has been aggravating the world since time immemorial. It is indeed a plague because there is no known herpes cure. Becuase herpes withdraws and hides in the nerves between outbreaks (it then lies dormant), it is virtually impossible for your body to fight it.

Herpes announces itself in an outbreak of tiny vessicles manily around the pubic region which later turn into open lesions. After an outbreak the HSV retreats back to the nerve endings and hides, making it difficult to treat or to find a cure.

A Cure For Herpes Studies

Currently many people are working hard to try to find a herpes cure. However right now the only form of treatment is that which helps suppress the herpes outbreaks as well as topical treatments to kill the virus once an outbreak occurs.

The simple fact that herpes is a virus makes it so hard to find a herpes cure. As a rule the immune sustem will deal with and destroy any viruses it finds but that fact that the herpes virus hides itself so well in the nerves when in the dormant phase makes finding a herpes cure a more difficult task.

Herpes Cure Medicines

Medication is currently the only solution that we have for herpes. Antiviral medication can help suppress the herpes outbreaks (but is not a herpes cure) and (sometimes) keeps the condition dormant. However varying levels of stress can still cause the virus to come out of the dormant stage. As of now there are no approved herpes vaccinations; however scientists are testing vaccinations on willing participants.

Prevention won’t cure herpes, but…

Always use protection with new partners or if you know or suspect your partner may have herpes. This alone will help enormously in protecting you from getting infected with the herpes virus.

Sexual activity of an oral nature will also transmit the herpes virus. Using protection will prevent the spread of herpes in this manner. It is simple to do and whilst it is not a cure for herpes, it will almost certainly prevent you from contracting or spreading the herpes virus

If you are searching for an absolutely sure way to not get infected with herpes, you will need to think about abstaining from all sexual contact.

John Currie
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/herpes-cure-whats-that-90283.html