Netdoctor Article

[hsv1owner]

So, I was doing some general reading on the Internet the other day and found this article:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/herpesgenitalis.htm

"Many herpes infections are quite minor, but others are serious. Fortunately, some are eventually eradicated by the body's immune system. So, contrary to what many people think, herpes isn’t always forever."

Obviously, this is clearly contrary to established medical opinion/fact. Wonder why they would post such a thing and should it be retracted? Perhaps they mean permanent remission? 

Just thought it was interesting.

 

[Sharkgirl]

interesting point. Like you said do they utilize "eradicated" and "permanent remission interchangeably, and is permanent remission including viral shedding?

[hsv1owner]

I've spoken with several doctors about this. No clear answers, but gave me some insight into the general course of herpes based on their experience. Short of it is my doctor tells me that I am in "permanent/long term remission" and that I am "unlikely to have another outbreak" - this was based on the fact that I have gHSV-1 and I've not had another outbreak since the first - almost 12 months. Just mild prodrome in the original outbreak area. He says this is common, but then so is getting repeated outbreaks. 

I've always been curious about the course of this virus. Epidemiology hints that way more people should have productive disease, but they do not. But there are no studies that look at those who get a primary outbreak then proceed to completely asymptomatic infections. Obviously, this is hard to do and I suspect many of those cases are so mild that they are no reported. It is always stated that herpes is never cleared, and I accept that, but most long term studies I've seen select for people that already have had a history of long term outbreaks. A study into permanent remission/clearance (if at all possible) would need to be done on new patients who just received a DX. 

You also can't just study people who have antibodies already because you're making an assumption about the course of infection and you're already selecting for those that have possibly been infected. Of course, with selection based on primary outbreak you're making the assumption that those people never had herpes prior to that point.

Gah! This virus is crazy, and fascinating!