Does Genital Herpes Boost the Risk of HIV Infection?

Herpes is an infection caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus). This virus affects the external genitalia, anal region, mucosal surfaces, and skin in other parts of the body. Scientists have discovered why people who develop genital herpes sores are at higher risk of contracting HIV despite successful treatment of the lesions. The new insight may lead to better strategies for HIV prevention.

The fact that both Herpes and HIV are STDs, a lot of people diagnosed with Herpes want to know the answer to the question: What are my chances of getting HIV if I have contracted Herpes?

Many studies have corroborated on the correlation between contracting HIV after a person is diagnosed with Herpes and the results do state an increase possibility of contracting HIV. In fact, the studies have revealed that a person becomes four to five times more vulnerable to HIV infection after having herpes IF they are exposed to HIV. It may sound too obvious but if someone is not exposed to HIV even if they have herpes, they have no risk of contracting HIV.

The open sores make it easy for the HIV to get into the body. Also, when you have contracted Herpes, your body is producing disease-fighting cells called macrophages. The production of macrophages allows HIV to bind to them in the mucous membranes of the anus or vagina, getting a direct access to the bloodstream. The infected area is concentrated with macrophages so there are more chances for HIV to enter the body.

The scientists reported in the August 2009 issue of Nature Medicine that CD4+ T cells, which HIV targets and infects, appeared at the sites of healed genital HSV-2 lesions at concentrations 2 to 37 times greater than in unaffected genital skin. Moreover, the CD4+ T cells at healed lesion sites expressed higher levels of 2 cell-surface receptors—CCR5 and CXCR4—that HIV uses to enter T cells. Compared to control tissue, the sites of healed genital herpes lesions also had a significantly higher concentration of immune cells known to ferry HIV particles to CD4+ T cells, whether or not the patient was treated with acyclovir.

In further experiments, the scientists found that HIV replicates 3 to 5 times as quickly in cultured tissue from the sites of healed HSV-2 lesions as in cultured tissue from control sites.

These results suggest that HSV-2 lesions create an ideal scenario for the rapid spread of HIV infection. Other sexually transmitted infections may create a similar cellular environment favorable to HIV infection, potentially explaining why sexually transmitted infections are general risk factors for HIV.

Episodic treatment is generally for people who have less than six recurrences in 1 year. Doctors may prescribe a 5-day course of antivirals each time symptoms appear.

Doctors prescribe suppressive treatment if a person experiences more than six recurrences in a year. In some cases, a doctor my recommend that the individual takes daily antiviral treatment indefinitely. The aim here is to prevent further recurrences. Although suppressive treatment significantly reduces the risk of passing HSV to a partner, there is still a risk.

 

 

Posted on May 18, 2023