Parenting, Children, and Genital Herpes – Reassurances

Parents usually tell us about apprehensions and worrries they have in accidentally spreading genital herpes to their kids in the course of everyday life (we’re not talking about pregnancy and childbirth here – that is another subject).

Maybe because there’s so little info that tackles parents’ concerns, parents turn out devising every sort of “safety strategy” that’s entirely unnecessary.

The main message is - loving parents (which includes grumpy, exhausted, in-need-of-a-break ones) don’t transmit genital herpes to their kids via family life’s “normal” intimacies. It is vital that fear of spreading the virus does not get in the way of shared experiences and loving touch.

• Snuggling in one bed together is considered “safe” – the virus does not crawl under the bed sheets from person to person.
• Sharing a shower or bath together is not a means the virus is transmitted – the same is true for swimming pools and spa baths.
• Washing clothes in one washing machine, even then, an individual undergoes a recurrence, won’t transmit the virus.
• A child touching against a person’s abdomen or upper thighs while that person undergoes a recurrence will not transmit the virus.
• If an adult has touched the genital area or utilizes the toilet and has forgotten to wash, this omission isn’t a big deal at all. The virus is very fragile and instantly dies as soon as it leaves active cells.
• Washing with water and ordinary soap is sufficiently clean – there is no need to make use of any special toilet seat or hand sanitizers.
• I know kids do all kinds of strange things that you cannot anticipate, but even though they put your worn out undies on their head, they’re not going to get the virus – try to relax and have fun with them.

Managing Genital Herpes

Treatment

Genital herpes, fortunately, is manageable. Over the years, numerous treatments offering efficient relief from genital herpes symptoms, have been developed.

Simple Treatments for Discomfort

The treatments below could alleviate the discomfort and pain of genital sores.

• Salt baths, to wash the genitals, can clean, ease, and dry the blisters or sores. Use a teaspoon of salt in 600 ml of water or a small amount in a shallow bath.
• Pain relievers take in simple analgesics (such as paracetamol and aspirin), ice (which can be comforting if applied to the sores directly) and creams with anesthetic component. However, creams can delay drying and must, therefore, be utilized sparingly and just for pain relief.
• Loose underclothes, if possible cotton, can aid to minimize discomfort and permit healing.

For anybody who undergoes extreme pain during urination, a warm bath or utilizing a pump bottle filled with water and spraying the water on yourself during urination can make this process less agonizing. It is very important to drink fluids because this dilutes the urine.