Re: [UUPoly-L] STDs and Poly

[John Ullman <jsu627@earthlink.net>]

Michael Rios wrote:           (On 08:52 PM 9/16/2008)
> Unlike HPV, herpes has not been linked to any
> other illness or disease process, nor is any suspected.  And in a very high
> percentage of cases that are recurrent, the outbreaks can be minimized or
> eliminated by following an appropriate diet.  There are also highly
> effective medicines as well.

There is some danger to newborns if the mother has her first outbreak 
of herpes late in pregnancy. This is because the fetus doesn't get 
the benefit of maternal antibodies against herpes that are developed 
after the first outbreak. The consequences of herpes infection to 
newborns is more severe than to adults, as I understand it.

For example: 
http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/New-findings-on-herpes-and-childbirth-1222.htm

I would certainly rather have a herpes outbreak than a cold, but for 
some, particularly woman, I think, for the first year or so, herpes 
outbreaks can be very painful.

Also, the emotional impact of having herpes is not trivial.

The percentage of the population which has herpes I is above 70%, 
higher than herpes II, and mostly herpes I is contracted early in 
childhood, before the age of five.

John U