Syphilis Rash on Penis: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
Herpes May Double The Risk Of Developing Dementia
Anyone who has received a herpes diagnosis may be twice as likely to develop dementia than people who have not, according to a new study from Uppsala University in Sweden.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, followed 1,000 70-year-old subjects for 15 years and confirmed previous research about the associations with the herpes virus and dementia.
Herpes results from infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), of which there are two types. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes oral herpes, affecting the mouth and surrounding skin but also potentially the genital region. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) typically causes genital herpes and is usually sexually transmitted. Nearly 572,000 people have HSV-2 infections each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dementia is a wide term for cognitive decline disorders like Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It is associated with aging but is not a usual part of getting older.
Erika Vestin, a lead author of the study and a Ph.D. Student at Uppsala University, told Medical News Today that the research confirms prior knowledge about the connections between dementia and herpes, but causality is still not concrete.
"We still do not have answers regarding causal mechanisms of this association, whether the virus causes the disease or if there is an indirect link," Vestin said.
"Further, the association remains to be studied in different social and ethnic groups, and potential effects of herpes drugs on dementia risk need to be investigated in pharmaceutical drug studies," she added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia and nearly 10 million more will receive a diagnosis of dementia each year. By 2030, it is estimated that the number of people with dementia will reach 78 million.
HSV, which remains for a person throughout their life, is quite common. According to the WHO, around 67% of people under age 50 globally have an HSV-1 infection, and 13% under age 50 have an HSV-2 infection., and 13% under age 50 have an HSV-2 infection. Most people with HSV-2 may not know they have it: Approximately 87.4% of people between the ages of 14 and 49 with genital herpes do not have a clinical diagnosis.
Up to 80% of the adult population in Sweden may have contracted HSV-1 at some point. The statistics are similar in the United States: 57% to 80% of adults here have oral herpes.
The herpes virus causes sores or blisters in or around the mouth or genitals, alongside other symptoms. There is no cure for herpes, but treatment can help manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks recurring and transmission to partners.
Vestin said that the oral form of herpes is most likely the main factor in any connection between HSV and dementia, but that the virus itself can complicate those connections.
"The main culprit seems to be HSV-1, which commonly infects the oral region," Vestin said. "However, HSV-1 and HSV-2 can both infect either the oral or the genital region, which is important to have in mind when these studies are conducted."
Dr. Monica Gandhi, MPH, an infectious diseases specialist with the University of California, San Francisco, told MNT that the study does not prove causality.
"There could be important differences between those with or without herpes simplex virus (HSV) IgG status (past exposure) and those who developed dementia or not. It is difficult to control all confounders that have been traditionally associated with dementia (like diabetes, hypertension, history of stroke or myocardial infarction), and the authors state that their entire cohort had relatively low rates of these conditions," Dr. Gandhi said.
"The authors did not find an association between treatment for HSV and dementia, which would be an interesting observation to see in another study if we wanted to be more convinced of a causal link," Dr. Gandhi added.
"A good matched study where a group is matched on almost all possible confounders for dementia (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, other risk factors) to another group with the same risk factors but only one difference (HSV IgG status) could be helpful in providing further evidence," she added.
Vestin suggested that getting diagnosed and treated with widely available drugs for the herpes virus would benefit anyone who does have it and indicated that previous research backs this.
"There are indications from large register studies that herpesvirus drug use may be associated with a decreased risk of dementia among symptomatic herpes simplex carriers. However, there are no pharmaceutical trials to confirm this. For now, herpes simplex carriers will have to rely on the same advice as the rest of the population, involving mainly lifestyle factors and cardiovascular health," she said.
Dr. Gandhi said that the rates of herpes and dementia are different enough — and there are wildly divergent factors for any individual's susceptibility — to warrant some caution around the study's findings.
"The prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 is very high in the population (up to 80%) and the rate of dementia is fortunately much lower. Traditional risk factors for strokes (which can induce dementia) include diabetes, hypertension and smoking, so keeping those factors controlled can be helpful for a person's individual risk of dementia," Dr. Gandhi said.
"Given how common herpes virus infection is [in] young people, I would not let this study concern you too much," she added.
How To Identify And Treat A Herpes Skin Rash
Infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) can lead to a skin rash. Early signs include burning and tingling, after which sores appear that can turn into blisters or pustules. Treatment with antiviral drugs may shorten the healing time.
A herpes rash usually develops on the genitals or around the mouth, but it can occur nearly anywhere on the body.
There are two types of HSV that can cause a skin rash in different areas: HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV-1 typically causes orolabial herpes. It spreads in the saliva and tends to affect the area around the mouth and nose.
HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes and usually spreads through sexual contact. The rash appears around the genitals. Sometimes, it is also responsible for orolabial herpes.
This article explains the symptoms of a herpes skin rash and explores its causes and treatments. It also examines some other possible causes of skin complaints that may look similar to herpes.
Herpes causes small sores to appear on the skin. These sores usually develop around the mouth and nose or genitals, but they can appear nearly anywhere on the body. Where the rash appears will depend on where and how the person contracted the infection.
The first symptom of a herpes outbreak tends to be a tingling, burning, or itching sensation in the affected area. This initial symptom might occur a day or so before the sores appear.
The sores can be tender and painful. They may look like clusters of small, fluid-filled blisters that become pustules. For a few days to a week, they may break open, ooze fluid, and form a crust before healing. The rash typically lasts for around 7–10 days.
The first time a rash appears, it may last for different lengths of time depending on the type of herpes. For example, oral herpes symptoms tend to clear up in 2–3 weeks, while genital herpes symptoms usually clear up in 2–6 weeks.
When someone experiences a herpes outbreak for the first time, they may also experience some or all of the following symptoms:
Once the virus is inside the body, it invades the nerves that supply the area of the skin it affects and stays there for life. There is currently no cure for this virus, and it tends to reactivate and cause symptoms occasionally. The prevalence of outbreaks varies from person to person.
Learn more about what herpes looks like here.
Herpes can cause a rash in various areas on the body, depending on the type of herpes virus causing the outbreak.
MouthOral herpes, or cold sores, occur around and in the mouth. Most of the time the sores and blisters from oral herpes appear on the lips or around the mouth. They can also occur on the tongue or other areas of the face.
EyesSometimes, the herpes virus can spread to one or both eyes. When this happens, it is known as herpes keratitis. This may cause various symptoms, including:
Herpes keratitis requires prompt treatment. Without this, it can cause issues such as vision loss.
Genitals and anusGenital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can appear on the genitals or rectum. It can also appear around the mouth if it is contracted via oral sex.
Genital herpes may cause only mild symptoms that can be mistaken for other skin conditions such as pimples or ingrown hairs.
Herpes rashes tend to look like clusters of small, fluid-filled blisters on a small area of the body.
Other skin conditions may cause symptoms similar to herpes. It is important for a person to speak with a healthcare professional if they experience a new and unexplained rash.
Contact dermatitisHaving a reaction to an irritant can cause contact dermatitis.
There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when a person experiences a reaction that is not an allergic reaction due to the immune system. Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed allergic reaction that can take 1-2 days to appear after exposure to an irritant.
Common irritants include:
In infants, contact dermatitis may develop in the diaper area.
Contact dermatitis can cause flushing, swelling, and even blistering in the area it affects.
ShinglesShingles causes a rash of blisters to occur on the skin. The same virus that causes chickenpox (the varicella-zoster virus) causes shingles.
The first symptom of shingles tends to be a severe burning or tingling pain on one side of the body. Other symptoms include:
These blisters tend to appear in one area of the body, most commonly one side of the trunk, near the waistline.
The condition usually clears up within 3–5 weeks. Treatment includes antiviral medications. However, shingles can also often be managed at home.
Read about home remedies for shingles.
ScabiesAn infestation of a microscopic parasite known as the human itch mite, or Sarcoptes scabiei, is what causes scabies.
The mite will burrow into the skin to lay its eggs and deposit its feces. Its presence causes an extremely itchy rash that resembles little pimples, creating flushed, scaly areas on the skin.
Doctors use a class of drugs called scabicides to treat these infestations. These drugs are only available with a prescription.
There are two types of HSV that cause herpes. Although these types are closely related and both spread through bodily fluids and human contact, they transmit in different ways.
The virus does not need to be causing any symptoms for it to spread to another person.
HSV-1, or oral herpesMost carriers of HSV-1 contracted it when they were infants or children. It can spread through:
Sexual contact tends to be how HSV-2 spreads. HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes, and it can spread in saliva during oral sex. HSV-2 can also pass to an infant during childbirth.
Both forms of the virus enter the nerve cells of the body, where they remain for life. The virus tends to lie dormant, or asleep, in the cells until something activates it and causes an outbreak of symptoms.
Factors that can lead to an outbreak include:
There is currently no cure for herpes, but the sores usually clear up on their own.
Treatments that can shorten the duration of the outbreak and ease the symptoms are available.
If a person experiences frequent outbreaks, their healthcare professional may recommend taking medication every day as a means of prevention. This treatment is known as prophylaxis.
Antiviral creams or ointments can relieve the burning, itching, or tingling. Antiviral pills can help speed up the healing process. Both types of medication tend to contain the same active ingredients. They include:
People can get herpes medication from a doctor or pharmacist, or some are available over the counter.
Learn more about medications for herpes.
For otherwise healthy people, a herpes skin rash is not usually anything to cause concern, other than spreading it to others. The sores can be painful and uncomfortable, but they typically go away by themselves. Medications to treat them are available from drugstores or through a healthcare professional.
The virus can cause complications in some people. Anyone with a long-term health condition or weakened immune system who thinks that they may have herpes should speak to their doctor.
People with cancer, HIV, or AIDS and anyone who has recently had an organ transplant should seek urgent medical attention if they think that they may have herpes.
Anyone who suspects that something other than herpes — such as dermatitis, shingles, or scabies — is causing their rash can talk with their healthcare professional about a diagnosis.
Herpes is a common virus that can cause a rash of blistering sores on the skin. These tend to develop around the mouth or genitals but can appear almost anywhere on the body.
There is currently no cure for the virus, and carriers tend to experience symptom outbreaks at various times throughout their life.
The clusters of fluid-filled blisters may be painful, but they are usually harmless. However, it is possible to spread herpes to others. A person experiencing a herpes outbreak should use caution when around other people.
Antiviral treatments that can help ease the symptoms and shorten the duration of an outbreak are available in many drugstores or through a healthcare professional.
Improperly Redacted Docs Reveal STI Suit Against Miami Dolphins Player
It seems another Miami Dolphins player has been sued for allegedly giving a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to a partner.A lawsuit filed in Florida court in late 2023 alleged that a Dolphins player infected his then-girlfriend with genital herpes after failing to warn her that he was carrying the virus.
The plaintiff claimed that several months after she noticed lesions on her partner, the couple underwent STI testing. According to the complaint, both subsequently tested positive for oral and genital herpes, a common, incurable virus that causes painful blisters.
The lawsuit claimed the player "owed a duty" to his ex to either refrain from sex or warn her that he was infected.
Although the online version of the complaint is redacted with black boxes that cover the text, the six-page document is readily viewable by simply copying and pasting its contents. (New Times is publishing neither the defendant's name nor the court venue out of respect for privacy. The plaintiff filed the case anonymously and is referred to as "Jane Doe" in the court documents.)
Despite a series of high-profile errors by courts and government agencies in recent years, the black-box redaction method persists.
While the herpes lawsuit remains pending in the court docket, attorneys for both the plaintiff and the player tell New Times the case is no longer being actively litigated. Neither lawyer specified whether a settlement was executed, and no settlement or case dismissal is noted on the docket.
The player's attorney declined to comment further about the case or the redaction blunder.
This is the second case in the past 16 months in which a Dolphins player has been accused of negligently giving a partner an STI.
In late 2022, similar claims against Xavien Howard made national headlines after a woman alleged the veteran cornerback knew he had herpes but failed to warn her about it before they had sex — allegations Howard's attorney claimed were fabricated. The woman later dropped the suit.
"Xavien Howard never had genital herpes in the first place; the entire basis of her lawsuit was a literal impossibility," attorney Brad Sohn said on behalf of Howard at the time. "His accuser nevertheless lobbed out defamatory, absurd, and knowingly false claims, as one of several (unsuccessful) attempts to extort money from him."
The court documents in Howard's case were not redacted, though the plaintiff filed anonymously as "Jane Doe."
The redaction mishap in the more recent STI suit is only the latest example of what has become a common occurrence in the era of digital court files, affecting everyone from the FBI to Facebook's lawyers.
Notably, several months after the 2018 Parkland school massacre, a Broward County judge released a report about the school board's investigation into its handling of the shooter. Although the report was heavily redacted, a Sun Sentinel reader told the paper's reporters that copying the document and pasting the contents into Microsoft Word caused the redactions to disappear. The newspaper subsequently reported on the material.
And in November 2018, Wall Street Journal reporters were able to view blacked-out bits of documents submitted in a court case involving Facebook (now known as Meta) and a bikini-photo app called Six4Three. The inadequately hidden text revealed that the social network had previously considered selling access to user data for as much as $250,000 per client company.
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