FEATURES

HERPES..............

HIGH GEAR/MAY 1977

Page 18

The following is a transcript of a Radio Free Lambda interview with Tom Kelley, the director for VD control for the clinics of the city of Cleveland.

RL: Tom, just what is herpes?

Tom: Herpes is a veneral disease, but it depends on which of the two types of Herpes virus that we're talking about. Type I virus will normally appear on the body above the waist. The Type II virus will appear below the waist, and it is the Type II virus which is considered a veneral disease because it is most often contracted through sexual contact.

RL: Isn't there some connection between herpes and cold sores?

Tom: Usually the Type I herpes lesion will appear on the lip and it's been called a cold sore or a chancre sore, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was contracted by sexual contact. People have had these things for years and years. What causes them? All we know is that it is a virus and it would be on that part of the body where you could come in contact with someone to contract disease.

the

RL: Herpes is considered a relatively new disease by many. How prevelant is it in the Cleveland area?

Tom: It's really not new, but we are seeing increasing numbers of it in Cleveland. Because it is a non-reportable veneral disease, at this time we really can't say for sure how many cases there really are. Based on

the number of cases we've seen in our clinics in Cleveland, we would probably say there's one case of herpes for every ten cases of gonorrhea and this year we'll probably see about 10,000 cases of gonorrhea. Now that would include all of Cuyahoga County.

RL: How does that compare to past years?

Tom: As far as herpes is concerned, it's difficult to say. The number of cases of gonorrhea has decreased 6% over the last year. With herpes we can't tell if someone has contracted a new case of herpes or whether it's a recurring type of infection. Once someone contracts this disease, because there is no known cure at this time, it's the kind of thing that will re-occur over and over again.

RL: Could you tell us how herpes is contracted and its development in the body?

Tom: The incubation period of this disease is anywhere from two to twenty days. Let's for now just talk about the Type II virus. We're talking about a symptom that will appear usually from two to three days after sexual contact; but it could be as long as twenty days after sexual contact. The first symptom you might notice is a little blotchiness or redness on the part of your body where you had contact. Usually it is quite irritating and you might have a tendency to

scratch it. That will last for about 24 hours. Then you will notice a small blister will ap-

pear, almost like a water or fever blister. Again, it is irritating, and in some cases, might be quite painful. Usually the blister will multiply and several will appear in the infected area. This initial episode will last two to three weeks. The lesions then will, on their own, dry up and drop off, and will disappear. When you have the next occurrence we don't know. There are a number of things which could trigger a reappearance, and it isn't necessarily another sexual act of contact. We've noticed that a severe emotional upset could trigger a reoccurence, extreme pressure from a job, etc. Since there is no cure, a person would continue to have these reoccurences for the rest of their life. Usually after the first year, the reoccurences are less and less as the years accumulate.

RL: When the symptoms aren't present, is the disease still contagious?

Tom: Usually it's only contagious when symptoms are evident. As far as we know now the disease is in a dormant stage. It's the rest time not causing any damage in a person's body, as syphilis and gonorrhea unchecked do. The only thing we know about herpes now that is of some consequence is that a woman who is pregnant and near term,about to deliver, and may show the symptoms of the disease should not give birth through the infected birth canal, because there is the possibility of brain damage or even death to the baby. The

delivery would have to be by which can be bought at a drug Caesarian.

RL: Is there much research

going on into herpes?

Tom: Yes. It is felt that because herpes is a viral infection as opposed to a bacterial infection such as syphilis or gonorrhea that there is hope that we will have a vaccine for herpes in the very near future.

RL: At one time, wasn't there a treatment developed in Germany for this?

Tom: Yes, it was called Lupenon G and it's a treatment still used in Germany and even here in some clinics in the States, but again it will only treat the symptoms. It will not cure the disease. The treatment will tend to limit the recurrences and will limit the episode once the lesions appear, but it will not prevent the disease from recurring again and again .. Fortunately, herpes symptoms are readily identifiable. Once the disease is diagnosed, physicians will vary in their treatments. For example at our clinic, we prescribe water compounds, water compresses applied to the lesions, because water is drying agent and will tend to dry the lesions up quicker. The water compressions do not need to be cold or hot. That should be applied about four times a day for fifteen minutes, and let it air dry. For those experiencing extreme discomfort there are a number of topical antibiodic ointments one can get and apply directly to the lesion, such as basitrasen

store without a prescription. However by applying such a lotion you are preventing the lesions from drying up, thus taking longer for the lesion to heal up. For others experiencing discomfort, we might simply recommend they take aspirin.

RL: It sounds as if the treatments can be self-administered. If someone thinks they have herpes, is there any reason for them to go to the clinic or see a doctor?

Tom: Yes, there is. Because even though a physician can take a look and diagnose the disease clinically most lay people cannot do that. And because the lesions may not be herpes it's important the person see someone. It could be a syphilis lesion or something else. You could be doing yourself more harm than good by not. seeing a doctor.

RL: Where can a person go in Cleveland to get these tests?

Tom: If you don't have your own physician, you can go to any of the city health clinics, the J. Glenn Smith Health Center on St. Clair Ave. the Broad-Miles Center down on 9127 Miles, the McCaffrey Clinic on the West Side at 4240 Lorain or the Free Clinic at 12201 Euclid Ave. For more information on these clinics and other VD related matters people can call the VD Hotline at 621-2191.

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