What is Acyclovir used for?

What is Acyclovir used for?My adopted sister has a blister on her finger with a red line running from it, possibly a blister on her mouth, she has trouble swallowing, body aches, temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and has gone to a doctor and gotten Abreva and Acyclovir.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Abreva excusively for cold sores and "real" cold sores are the herpes virus? More importantly, isn't the exclusive application of Acyclovir the herpes virus? Herpes would include HSV1 (oral) and HSV2 (genital) and Chicken Pox (herpes zoster) and Shingles (chicken pox in the elderly). It also seems to me that if it where herpes zoster, she would have an obvious rash. That leaves Oral and Genital Herpes Simplex.

My question is.. could this be anything else other than Herpes? And if herpes, does what I describe fit the description of oral or genital herpes? The reason I ask is because I am 44, my dad is 76 and she is 19. I have never had chicken pox nor herpes. I think I am in considerable danger.. and so is my father. She completely denies having Herpes, but she will not say what she DOES have. She hasn't gone to college in a week (although she does mysteriously have the energy to go out to restaurants and nightclubs everyday).
I think that fever blister and cold sores are just nice ways of saying "oral herpes". My understanding of herpes is that it isn't curable, and the virus somehow stays resident within the cheekbones for a lifetime with random outbreaks about every 6 months. I don't doubt that Bells Palsy info, but Bells Palsy has the symptom of messing up the facial muscles so that the afflicted person appears to have had a stroke.

Answer by Maria
Abreva is used for cold sores and they are the herpes virus. Acyclovir can also be used to treat Bells Palsy, it actually isn't very effective and usually corticosteroids are used but if it is thought that a viral infection set off the Bells palsy than it can be used as a treatment along with the steroids. But you are right that as a general rule Acyclovir is exclusively for herpes viruses. Some people don't realize that you can get other forms of Herpes aside from genital Herpes and that might be what your sister is thinking. On a side note, if you have never had Chicken Pox you should get vaccinated.



Edit---you are correct, if your sister had Bells Palsy, you would certainly be able to tell.

Answer by micksmixxx
The following website states:

"Acyclovir is used for:

Treating herpes and shingles infections.

Acyclovir is an antiviral. It works by stopping viral replication. However, Acyclovir does not eliminate the virus, is not a cure, and does not prevent transmission to others."

You are correct about Abreva. The following website (2nd url below) states:

"Abreva is used for:

Treating cold sores or fever blisters on the face or lips and shortening the duration of symptoms (eg, tingling, pain, itching, burning)."

Answer by Garry
Her symptoms are complications of herpes, whichever type she has. There are 5000 different types of the herpes virus, but only 8 affect humans. Her symptoms will go away, but the virus will remain dormant in the nervous system and reappear periodically.

Answer by Cooker
Well, considering the fact that 80% of the people in the US test positive for HSV-1 (oral herpes/cold sores)--and over 90% do by the age of 50--it would not be earth-shattering if it turns out your adopted sister has it. In fact, YOU might have it also...but have simply never had an outbreak. Asymptomatic oral herpes isn't as unusual as you might think. And you have read that she will have random outbreaks every 6 months? That is absolutely NOT TRUE. She may have one outbreak and never again have another one. Or she may have a few the first year, none the year after. Tell me, within the period of a day, exactly how many people do you come in contact with who have visible cold sores? I'm betting less than 2! And yet 80% of us have it! Given your proposal that she will have outbreaks every 6 months, if that were true you'd see BUNCHES of people walking around with honking big cold sores every day of the week!

Bottom line, you are completely blowing this out of proportion, and neither you nor your father are in "obvious danger" of anything, given those stats about oral herpes infection rates.

Your adopted sister is using Abreva and acyclovir. Evidently, she has spread the oral herpes virus to her finger (through an open sore), and now has herpes whitlow as well. It is very common among health workers and teachers. All of this is absolutely not a big whoop, considering she is obviously now in the majority of US citizens who have cold sores.

Time to worry about something else.

Answer by Lexa
Acyclovir treats herpes.

Cold sores are from herpes simplex 1, which is so common that it is present in 90% of the population. You can HAVE herpes simplex 1 and never get a cold sore if you have a good immune system (but that doesn't negate the fact that you still have it living inside your mouth).

Acyclovir ALSO treats herpes simplex 2 outbreaks, which is genital herpes. THAT never goes away, the outbreaks simply heal.

Give your answer to this question below! Chicken Pox - Family Health Guide
Get the facts on the chickenpox vaccine, treatment, causes (varicella zoster virus, VZV), symptoms and signs (itchy, red rash).

---

Orignal From: What is Acyclovir used for?