ANNIE’S MAILBOX: Getting informed about herpes

By Kathy Mitchell

and Marcy Sugar

Dear Annie: Would you please give your readers some information on herpes, both types? Can you address the fact that the lip type doesn’t always stay above the waist, or the genital type below? Also, this virus can be in your body for years before it ever manifests itself. And you can pass along the virus even when no lesion is showing. Thanks.

We All Need To Be Informed

Dear Informed: There are different types of the herpes virus. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) is most often experienced as oral herpes (commonly known as cold sores), and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) is most often associated with genital herpes. These two types of herpes are similar, though, and either one can be found above or below the belt.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection spread by skin-to-skin contact, meaning you can get it by having intercourse with an infected person or by having oral sex with someone who has cold sores. Symptoms of genital herpes can include tingling, itching, sores, blisters, cuts, redness, aches and pains. But it can be spread even when you don’t have symptoms.

According to the American Social Health Association, it is difficult to know how long you have had genital herpes, and weeks, months or years can go by before symptoms reappear. Many with genital herpes have few or mild symptoms, and most actually do not realize they are infected — and can infect their partner.

We urge anyone who is sexually active to talk with their health care provider about herpes and other STDs to see if they recommend any tests, and anyone who is infected should use condoms consistently and correctly. You can get more information through ASHA’s website at ashastd.org.

Dear Annie: My husband of two years is constantly playing a computer game. When “Jon” comes home from work, he eats, then sits in his recliner with his computer until he falls asleep. He’ll then sleep in the guest room.

I’m eight weeks pregnant. On weekends, he’s online from the time he gets home until late at night. We have a 3-year-old son, who craves his father’s attention.

I’ve told him I wish he would cut back on his computer time, but he doesn’t see anything wrong with it. We also have virtually no sex life (his choice), and he visits porn sites.

The other day, he left our house to help a friend move a piano and came home 12 hours later, drunk. His phone had conveniently died. He sees nothing wrong.

Desperate for Family Time

Dear Desperate: Your husband sounds just as unhappy as you. The computer, the drinking, the time helping friends are his way of escaping his responsibilities at home and avoiding the conflicting thoughts he associates with having a second child. Ask your doctor or pediatrician to refer you to a counselor.

E-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

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