Use of Acyclovir & Prevalence of Genital Herpes
There are
some statistics on the prevalence of one of
the most common sexually transmitted disease namely genital herpes, which has precipitated
the need for drugs such as Acyclovir to gain immense popularity as an antiviral drug.
A brief on the history of
viral sexually transmitted diseases, also commonly
known as STDs, reveals that they have a more
than negative reputation as compared to their
bacterial counterparts.
This is largely due to the
life long effects of infection inhibited by
fear of the virus making a permanent place on
the genital areas. Genital herpes being the
most common ailment prior to the advent of AIDs,
drugs such as Acyclovir have made it possible
to not only treat the virus, but remain effective
for perhaps the entire life span of the individuals.
Studies into the prevalence factor
for genital herpes, which is surprisingly rated
as the second or third most common infective
cause of genital ulceration, shows that developing
countries have a larger population as compared
with the developed countries of the world.
The first and second being chancroid
and syphilis respectively. It was also reported
that genital herpes plays a significant role
as an agent for the transmission of HIV (AIDs)
virus.
Statistics to this effect show
that in 1980, the prevalence rate of genital
herpes in United States of America was 16 percent,
a figure, which rose to more than 22 percent
only a decade later.
The age factor also accounted for
the prevalence of genital herpes, according
to which those aged 15 years or under had less
than 1 percent of the virus. This figure rose
by 20 percent for those aged between the ages
of 30 and 40 years. The prevalence factor eventually
declined in elderly individuals.
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