Herpes can be described as a generalized term for two different kinds of disease. One affects the genitalia and is known as genital herpes, while the other affects the area around the mouth and is commonly known as a cold sore. Both of these types are caused by a virus; cold sores by the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), and genital herpes by HSV-1 as well as herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). Once herpes has been contacted, it cannot be cured and the virus remains in the body permanently.

Both virus types reside in nerve cells and can remain inactive for long periods, sometimes even years at a time. Medical science is still unsure what it is that reactivates the virus after a dormant period, a process known as reactivation.

The HSV-1 virus is normally spread through direct contact with an area that is infected during a flare up period, whereas HSV-2 is usually spread through sexual intercourse. Symptoms of the herpes normally depend on the area it shows up on. Cold sores around the mouth or nostrils could itch and pain a bit painful. Genital herpes, on the other hand, appear as sores around the genitalia of men and women and are rarely painful.

Although herpes is incurable, the sores themselves can be treated, and this can speed up the time it takes to heal, reduces any pain and could also delay or even prevent other flare ups.

Herpes

Tuberculosis is a condition which primarily affects the lungs.  The bacteria which cause tuberculosis are slow moving bacteria and a person who has been infected might not have any symptoms for months or years afterwards.  The infection can spread to other parts of the body such as the nervous system or the bones.  Symptoms of tuberculosis include a cough that won’t go away, night sweats and weight loss but most of the time the immune system will kill off the bacteria and there will be no symptoms.  Sometimes, if the immune system cannot kill the bacteria it will build up a defense to the infection and it will stay in the body but no symptoms will be experienced, however, sometimes the body just cannot fight the bacteria and the infection spreads to the lungs and becomes known as active tuberculosis.  It can happen that in cases where the infection has lain dormant in the body in can become active at a later date.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis was a major disease many years ago and resulted in many deaths, but the introduction of antibiotics and vaccinations helped to reduce this.  In recent years though, tuberculosis cases have been increasing again, especially in ethnic minorities who have come from areas where tuberculosis is still widespread. Areas where the disease is widespread include countries of Africa south of the Sahara desert, Eastern Europe, Central America, South East Asia, and Russia.

If tuberculosis is not treated it can be deadly as it can result in the person not being able to breath properly. Treatment with antibiotics for tuberculosis usually involves taking a course for at least six months.

Whereas acute pain in an individual is a typical sensation that is usually triggered to alert them of a possible illness or injury, chronic pain differs in that it can last for weeks, even months or years. Although there could have been an initial trigger for this pain such as an infection or injury, or ongoing pain because of such things as cancer or arthritis, some people can suffer from chronic pain without any prior illness or injury.

Generally, chronic pain tends to affect older people and the complaints associated with this can include lower back pain, headaches, arthritis pain and cancer pain. There are some treatments that are prescribed for sufferers of the condition and these include medication, electrical stimulation, acupuncture and in some cases, surgery. Some medical practitioners have even gone so far as to prescribe placebos for the treatment, which has actually resulted in the lessening or complete elimination of the pain. This may therefore indicate that the condition can be associated with psychological conditions as well as physical.

Chronic Pain

Some individuals with chronic pain can be assisted with the problem by them understanding the root cause of the pain and the relevant steps they can take to reverse what the chronic pain has done. With the advancement of neuroscience, scientists believe that there will be better understanding of the condition and therefore better treatments available in the years to come.