Herpes simplex
Treatment:
Some cases are relatively mild and may not require treatment. Anesthetic mouthwashes such as 2% lidocaine or baking soda rinses may reduce the pain of lesions inside the mouth. Alcohol-based mouthwashes should not be used.
Gentle cleansing of skin lesions with soap and water is recommended. Warm baths may relieve the pain of genital lesions. Drying lotions such as calamine may relieve the pain of skin lesions. Petroleum based ointments should not be used because they promote viral spread and delay healing.
Oral acyclovir (Zovirax) may be prescribed to suppress recurrent eruptions of genital herpes.
If secondary infection of the skin lesions occur, topical antibiotics such as neomycin-bacitracin ointment, or oral antibiotics, are indicated.
Expectations (prognosis):
The lesions generally heal on their own in 7 to 10 days.
Once infected, the virus stays in the body for the rest of a person's life and recurrences of active infection may happen. Some people never have another episode, and some have 4 or 5 recurrences a year. Subsequent infections tend to occur after exposure to the sun and stressful events.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if herpes symptoms do not resolve in 7 to 10 days, or if there are frequent recurrences of symptoms.
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