Could Herpes Treatment Cure HIV in the Future?

According to the latest figures in 2006, four million people were newly infected with HIV mostly through heterosexual intercourse. Women who had herpes and HIV was found to have lower HIV levels while receiving herpes treatment. Patients who were receiving anti-herpes treatment reduced the amount of HIV in the blood and in the vagina within three months of the treatment. These findings open new avenues for the prevention of HIV transmission and for the management of patients co-infected by the two viruses.

Valacyclovir significantly reduces the frequency and quantity of HIV detectable in genital secretions, and reduces the quantity of HIV in the plasma. There was also dramatic reduction in the detection of symptomic and asymptomic presence HSV-2. The female genital tract is closely related to the transmission of the virus.

Studies on one hundred and forty women in Africa, who were infected with both the herpes virus and AIDS viruses, were put on the medications valacyclovir or dummy pills for three months. Women who took the drug ended up with less HIV in their bloodstream. Women who had 20,000 virus copies per milliliter of blood had their levels drop to 8,000 copies after taking the drug.

Genital herpes is transmitted with or without the presence of sores or other symptoms, and is usually transmitted by people who are unaware they are infected. Herpes generally spreads by skin-to-skin contact when there are signs of tingling or itching.

Women with herpes experience pain when urinating. It is important women avoid problems of urinary retention by drinking plenty of fluids to dilute the urine and reduce pain and stinging. If you have a cold sore and kiss someone, you can transfer the virus to any part of the body that you kiss. The virus can also be transmitted to your partner if you have active genital herpes and have anal or vaginal intercourse. If your partner has a facial herpes attack, oral sex should be avoided, or your partner can be infected with genital herpes.

If you are with someone who knowingly has herpes or HIV, then make sure you always use protection. If your partner has herpes and has not had an outbreak that does not mean that you can't contract this virus. It's always better to be safe than sorry. With these new drugs lowering HIV, it is hopeful that in the future there will be a cure for HIV.