Herpes on Hands

Herpes infection may be seen on any part of the body. It is a viral disease, which can be caused either by type 1 or type 2 herpes simplex virus. The infection is categorized according to the area of infection. The most commonly seen are herpes zoster, oral herpes (also known as cold sores, fever blisters), genital herpes, herpetic whitlow (commonly called herpes on hands), etc. The other names for herpes on hands are digital herpes simplex, finger herpes, etc. The infection goes through a cycle of active and remission phases. The active phase can last for anywhere between 2 to 21 days. In the remission phase, the sores go away completely. Normally, a person may be infected with it only once in their lifetime. However, in some rare cases, there can be recurrence of the disease. This herpes on hands infection normally occurs on the fingers or the fingernail area. The name of the virus causing this condition is herpes simplex virus (HSV). The question now arises, 'is herpes on hands contagious'. Yes this condition is extremely contagious and spreads easily.

Causes of Herpes on Hands
The main cause of herpes on hands and feet is due to the presence of chickenpox virus in the body. After a person has got chickenpox, the virus may remain in the body in a dormant condition. When the virus becomes active, it gives rise to herpes infection. Other than this, it can be caused due to other reasons as well. The most common cause is spread of the infection is through touch, as it is very contagious. Infection present on one part of the body can spread to other parts of the body, due to touching the affected area and then touching the other parts of the body. Health care professionals are often at risk of contracting the infection from the patients. Children are also prone to this infection. The infection in children is transferred on the hand by sucking thumbs and fingers.

Herpes on Hands Symptoms
The herpes on the hands infection is most likely to be caused on the thumbs or the index fingers. The condition arises anywhere after 2 to 20 days after being exposed to the virus. The first symptom of herpes often is burning and/or tingling sensation along with pain. Subsequently the affected area becomes red and there is a swelling on the finger. In the next stage of herpes clustered blisters are seen on the affected finger. These blisters have bright red base to them. Along with the presence of blisters, there are other symptoms of this condition as well. Fever often accompanies the herpes infection. In some cases, the lymph nodes present in the elbow or in the underarm area may be swollen. The chances of recurrence of the infection is rare. But in some cases, certain triggers like sun exposure, hormonal changes, trauma, stress, etc., can cause the disease to recur.

Treatment for Herpes on Hands
Herpes on hands is an illness limited to the person. However, it is extremely important to take care of the condition and let it not spread to other parts of the body. Antiviral medications can be applied topically for herpes cure. There are different topical medications, which you can make use of. It is better to consult your health care professional to know the right medication in your case. Likewise there are also antiviral medications, which can be taken orally as well for herpes treatment. These medicines are said to prevent the recurrence of the condition.

There are natural cures for herpes, which you may want to make use of to treat your condition. Baking soda paste made with water can be applied to the finger or hand. After touching the infection, it is a MUST to wash hands with warm water and soap. Keep the affected area as dry as you can to help in quick relief from the condition. One natural cure for herpes is the use of cold tea bags. Using the cold tea bags arrests viral activity and number of outbreaks reduces drastically. There are herbal cure for herpes, which one can make use of.

If any of the family members is affected with herpes on hands, care should be taken to avoid the spread of the condition to other members of the family. It is best to wash the clothes of the infected person separately and so should the bed linen be washed separately. It is best not to come in contact with the person physically, to avoid the spread of infection. In case the infection spreads, it is better to get in touch with a health care professional immediately.