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Antiviral chewing gum to reduce influenza and herpes simplex virus transmission

(penntoday.upenn.edu)
180 points gnabgib | 1 comments | 09 Apr 25 19:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.217s | source
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sitkack ◴[09 Apr 25 19:49 UTC] No.43636938[source]▶
PSA, everyone should be getting the HPV vaccine, regardless of age and gender.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPV_vaccine

https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/wh...

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/oropharyngeal-cancer.html

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unavoidable ◴[09 Apr 25 22:32 UTC] No.43638750[source]▶
While this advice is good, the article is discussing HSV (herpes simplex virus), not HPV (human papilloma virus), which have quite different symptoms and epidemiology. There are, as yet, no approved HSV vaccines.
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sitkack ◴[09 Apr 25 23:42 UTC] No.43639174[source]▶
Second part of the PSA, one should keep prophylactic antiviral medication on hand incase you get exposed to someone with HSV. With 60% of the population positive for HSV, everyone should have an antiviral on hand. acyclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525787/

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8f2ab37a-ed6c ◴[10 Apr 25 01:38 UTC] No.43639810[source]▶
HSV-targeting antivirals like acyclovir lower the chances of transmission when taken regularly by an infected individual. They do nothing if taken by those not carrying the virus. Keeping them on hand accomplishes nothing.

From the page you link:

> If you have genital herpes, you will probably be somewhat less likely to infect your partner if you use antiviral medication for prevention. The medications used for this purpose include acyclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir. They must be taken every day over a long period of time, though. Using them as a creme or ointment is not suitable.

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1. 01100011 ◴[10 Apr 25 06:04 UTC] No.43641109[source]▶
So it's been a while since I had an HSV scare, but from my research at the time you definitely want to start antivirals as soon as possible after symptoms start(assuming you know since it doesn't always cause symptoms). You want to reduce the viral load and let your body catch up which limits the spread and reduces severity of future breakouts.