Vaginal Herpes

Herpes In Children And Adolescents

Written by Patricia Conley

Up to one-fifth of the U.S. population has genital herpes and these cases extend to adolescents and children as well as adults. Juvenile cases of genital herpes are caused by transmission of the disease from mother to child during pregnancy, from adults to children in cases of sexual abuse and from infected children to children in circumstances when children become sexually active. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two forms of the virus which cause the disease, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 most commonly causes cold sores around the mouth, and rarely causes genital herpes. HSV-2 is the more common culprit in causing genital herpes. In general, herpes is characterized by outbreaks of sores or lesions in the genital area. The outbreaks vary in frequency and intensity from person to person, and many patients can go for years without realizing they're infected. Herpes outbreaks last from two to four weeks, although in many mild cases they may last a shorter period of time. The herpes simplex virus is transmitted from person to person contact, usually during sexual activity as the infected areas of an infected person come in contact with areas of a non-infected person that are vulnerable to infection. Mothers can also transmit the disease to their babies in utero or during child birth as the baby travels through the mother's birth canal. Transmission of herpes from mother to child during pregnancy is extremely rare, but does occur and can have some serious health implications for the child. Diagnosis If you believe a child or adolescent in your care has contracted genital herpes, the only way to accurately confirm whether he or she has the disease is to have the youth tested by a health care provider. Diagnostic tests for genital herpes include tests to determine whether the illness was caused by the HSV-1 or HSV-2 virus. While few cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1, it's worthwhile to test for it if you think it is likely that the youth has genital herpes, as the sooner the disease is detected, the easier it is to treat. There are a variety of diagnostic tests for genital herpes, including a culture from sores that may be genital herpes, blood tests, and a new DNA test. Treatment If a child or adolescent in your care has been diagnosed with genital herpes, it's important to educate the youth about his or her illness and begin treatment as soon as possible. Suppressive therapy using anti-viral drugs can help make herpes outbreaks less frequent and less severe. Intermittent treatments can reduce symptoms when an outbreak occurs. Treating neonatal herpes is extremely important as the disease can cause a number of complications including illnesses of the heart and lungs, infections of the skin, eyes and mouth and central nervous diseases, including encephalitis. Left untreated, neonatal herpes can result in epilepsy, retardation or even death. If the infected child also has HIV, some very serious and life-threatening complications can occur, as the two viruses tend to make one another more severe. Getting the child on a regimented treatment program is important to preserving life and quality of life in this circumstance. Also, if the disease was transmitted to the child by molestation or rape, you must also prepare for criminal proceedings against the responsible party. Medical tests may be required by the court and the child may be called upon to testify. Prevention For parents who believe their adolescent children may have become sexually active, intervention to prevent them from contracting vaginal  herpes or other sexually transmitted diseases is highly advisable. Parents should educate their children about the risks of contracting genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases, the health implications of these illnesses and how they can avoid these problems by abstinence or the use of condoms. While sexual activity in adolescents may be unacceptable to parents, the use of condoms can greatly reduce the chances of a sexually active adolescent from contracting the herpes simplex virus. Counseling Children and adolescents who contract genital herpes are likely to suffer some profound psychological impacts, as there is a social stigma attached to having the disease. Children and adolescents who contracted the disease through molestation are likely to also have other issues as well. It is highly advisable to seek counseling for children and adolescents who are infected with genital herpes, as therapy can help them come to grips with living with the disease and the issues surrounding how they came to have the disease.

 

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