expatwannabe

You friend should be able to get what he needs from a local pharmacist, I would think. Don't need a doctor's prescription -- just show them the sores and they'll hand over the meds.

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Ice Maiden

You cant treat herpes!

If the sores are really that terrible and dont go away after a few weeks then you can have them frozen off but that is only in extreme cases and it dosen't stop other attacks of herpes.

You can take medication to lessen the severity of the outbreak and it is not advised to place creams on the affected area at the time of an outbreak because it will only make the pain worse in many cases.

Outbreaks are caused by stress/change of diets/weather... Many different reasons and they last usually only a few weeks but it depends on the person.

But most people dont know they have herpes because they may get a tiny outbreak without realising then most people never get another outbreak so they dont know they have herpes.

I wouldn't advise going to hospitals in Thailand, sure you could try and I'm sure they'd charge stupid money for medications your friend dosen't need because herpes is NOT curable.

However, because having herpes is sometimes a side effect from having HIV/AIDS I'd suggest your friend has a HIV test A.S.A.P.

OnTheMove

Thanks for the help. I will pass it on. I have been doing some research myself. Although it is not curable it is possible that some med's stop the outbreaks occurring regularily.

Are there antibiotics that can help the blisters heal quicker? I have heard of I-Lysine as a diatry supplement but cannot get this in any of the pharmacies.

There are so many med's that one can get as suppresors, but which ones actually work?

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natalie8

Move to Practicalities.

expatwannabe

I'm sure I've heard of drugs in the U.S. that reduce the symptoms, even though it's not curable.

Be careful when dealing with amino acids like Lysene. It's better to just avoid foods with Tyrosene, which may bring about a herpes eruption in the first place. I think certain nuts are high on that list.

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Eric C

I'm sorry there is a lot of mis-information in this post so I must respond.

This is not necessarily true, see below. You probably meant that you can't cure herpes because it is a virus which is correct.
You are confusing genital herpes with genital warts here, 2 completely different STDs. The treatment for genital warts often does involve the freezing process you mentioned as does treatment for warts anywhere else.
This is correct there are anti-viral medications that have been shown to reduce the length and severity of outbreaks. The oldest (and cheapest) medication is called Zovirax and it's generic name is Acyclovir. The newer (more expensive) medication is called Valtrex and its generic name is Valcylovir. Valcylovir is metabolized in the red blood cell where it's needed, it has been shown to be more effective and faster acting than Acycylovir. The use of creams and other topical treatments are not recommended because they have not been demonstrated to be effective though, it does stand to reason that putting anything on an open sore will be painful.
Correct. The longer one has the virus the better their body gets at fighting it. This translates to a reduction in the frequency, severity, and duration of the outbreaks.
I wouldn't say that most carriers are not aware they have it but it's probably fair to say that many carriers may not be aware. There is a blood test that checks for the unique anti-bodies that your immune system develops in response to the virus which can be done at any time.
Unless your friend has a good relationship with a Thai pharmacist I would advise them to go to a hospital because the medication from a hospital pharmacy will likely be the same cost or cheaper (even with the hospital / doctor fee included) than paying the 'farang price' at a pharmacy on the street. If your friend can get the 'Thai price' at a pharmacy or $ is not a concern they don't really have to see a physician. Just request the medications I've indicated above.
This is completely incorrect HIV / AIDS is a completely different STD and is in no way related to herpes except that it is also a virus. Herpes is NOT ever a 'side effect' of HIV / AIDS.

I hope this helps to clear up some mis-conceptions and my apologies to Ice Maiden if it sounds like I'm stepping on your toes. I know your reply was made with the best of intentions but I can't let incorrect medical advice go unanswered.
I've considered starting up some sort of 'farang medical counseling' business in LOS. This reminds me to look into it further when I get settled over there in a few months.
--E

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Chalk Face

Don't be silly IM. of course you can. You can't 'cure' Herpes 1 or 2 but you can make it a lot more bearable.

I have had Type 1 all my life but since the invention of Acyclovir (Zovirax) have never had a noticable outbreak. Another couple of newer anti-viral drugs are Famciclovir (Famvir) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).

I used to use Zovirax cream from any Boots but it is relatively expensive. Now I go to a local pharmacy and ask for local version. Slap it on when you feel a tingle and it goes away.
Same for type 2. The problem with type 2 (the genital version) is , that after the initial, it outbreak can lie dormant for years so you think it's gone but you are still capable of infecting others.

OTM, antibiotics won't help because it's a virus but the drugs above give relief in a day or so.

Don't let Ice Maiden scare the bejasus out of you. Herpes is NOT a side effect of HIV/AIDS.
People who can't be bothered with 'Safe Sex' are the sort of folk likely to pick a whole bouquet of STDs.

Stay away from Bumrungrad, it is priced for rich medical tourists. Other hospitals will charge a few hundred Baht for consultation, blood tests and prescription. A fraction the cost of going abroad.

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Eric C

I guess we were typing away at the same time Chalkie

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"It is anti-pedagogical to expect campesino students to be educated [in a schoolhouse in such poor condition], while government officials drive Mercedes cars. That is what we are fighting against."
--Ernesto "El Che" Guevara (hours before his execution)

"I don't believe that drug addiction is an occupational hazard."
-- Duke Ellington (Playboy's "Narcotics and Jazz Musicians" panel discussion)

Chalk Face

True, Eric. But at least I agreed with you, even if you said it much better.

Do you know if the blood test for Herpes distinguishes between 1 and 2?

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spliff

Uhggg...hope you're not talking from experience!

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Wherever I go.....the people there always complain....
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Eric C

I'm 98% sure that the blood test can not distinguish between herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2 but it might be worth a Google to confirm from a respectable site like webmd.com

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"It is anti-pedagogical to expect campesino students to be educated [in a schoolhouse in such poor condition], while government officials drive Mercedes cars. That is what we are fighting against."
--Ernesto "El Che" Guevara (hours before his execution)

"I don't believe that drug addiction is an occupational hazard."
-- Duke Ellington (Playboy's "Narcotics and Jazz Musicians" panel discussion)

Chalk Face

Hmmmmm. It seems that you can catch either variety in either area It doesn't make much difference to the symptoms nor prognosis. It IS possible to distinguish but.........

The gold standard for the antibody test for Herpes infections is the Western blot (WB) analysis which has the ability to distinguish between types 1 and 2 antibodies. However due to its cumbersome nature WB is not a practical option for the routine clinical laboratory.
From STDWeB

http://www.stdweb.com/Asha/herpes1.HTM

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I told Jeeves to drink it himself.

Fritz88

All this talk is making me hungry...

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