19/02/2023
HERPES VIRUS: THE BRAIN EATER
"EP doesn’t even remember that he has a memory problem. That is something he discovers anew every moment. And since he forgets that he always forgets, every lost thought seems like just a casual slip—an annoyance and nothing more—the same way it would to you or me" were the reports of the freelance journalist Jushua Foer in his book - Moonwalking with Einstein - where he gave an account a man who suffered of what was thought to be flu but happened to be herpes simplex. The virus has been laying low but due to stresses or other factors was activated and "ate" a pea size from the brain. This was an irreversible occurrence and would left him in that state.
Indeed, apart from the sore, blisters and warts around the mouth, skin and the ge****ls, the virus can can much more.
Indirectly most of us must have had a sister virus of herpes through vaccination. The vericela-zoster virus is the causative agent for chickenpox. Taking the vaccine help most children avoid outbreak in their lifetime but this not mean the virus does not lay low in their system. It is only attenuated.
Those that suffered the chickenpox will recover and would most likely not experience it again, except there is a triggering agent later in life.
The herpes virus are of varying classes. Herpes zoster also known as shingles, herpes zoster oticus is usually the culprit of viral ear infection and the herpes simplex virus is much more ubiquitous than the first two. As a matter of fact, it is the reason for this article.
HSV as it is usually abbreviated are classified as HSV-1 and HSV-2. About 3.7 Billion people are reported by WHO to be carrying the former. That is, from every 10 persons 4 persons are carrying this particular virus while from every 200 persons 1 is likely to be carrying the HSV-2 virus.
Either can be transmitted through skin contact, kiss, contact to infected body fluids and s*x.
HSV-1 are usually the cause of mouth ulcers that defy regular antibiotics. This sores are usually many and painful to bear. In some cases this strain is found around the genitalia just like the other strain can be found in the mouth.
Both are classified as s*xually transmitted infections and remain so until they pronounce themselves as disease. At this stage the host is already experiencing DIS-EASE.
Nature has made it that the most dangerous remain relatively low compared to the HSV-1. This is indeed a mercy for the human race. The presence of the HSV-2 suppresses one's immunity and increases likelihood of contracting other viruses like HIV and the likes.
Laboratory investigations remain the surest means to diagnose it and taking the proper treatment as deem viable by the medical practitioner.
No doubt we will have this virus with us for long because it is easily transmittable from mother to child.
Parents are charged with the responsibility to protect their children from too much encounter with adults in the family. Undue kissing and sharing of setting personal belongings should be avoided.
Exercise, healthy feeding, avoiding canned, denatured and preserved foods and food products, avoiding sugar, prioritising mental health (as it is a contributor to stress which has been found to lower our immune system).
Avoidance of close relationship with certain animals like monkey, apes, avoiding certain s*xual practices like oral s*x, group s*x, sticking to single s*xual partner and keeping a healthy environment will keep us better.
Microbes will remain part of us. Just as co-humans can be our greatest enemy so can microbes become one. We need to be proactive.
Till next time.
