Oral herpes, kézako? During their lifetime, 40% of French people should be affected at least once by a cold sore. 15% of them will even suffer from recurrent viral herpes labialis, with three to four outbreaks on average per year.
Problem: if these outbreaks of cold sores are the cause of physical pain, they also cause psychological suffering, according to a recent survey by the Vectans Pharma brand conducted among 300 patients and 366 general practitioners.
First info: according to the patients questioned, stress and fatigue are the main factors likely to lead to a new outbreak of herpes. Then come exposure to the sun and infections (fever, colds…) then the menstrual period and… dental care!
Herpes labialis, a source of moral suffering
Moral suffering, meanwhile, is real since 1 in 2 people with cold sores say they are “worried” (or even “very worried”) about the risk of contaminating those around them during a crisis. 44% of patients also evoke a feeling of stigmatization: 1 patient out of 2 speaks of a suffering of the type “feeling of shame, devaluation of self-esteem”…
In the event of a crisis, 59% of patients refuse to kiss their loved ones and 28% manage to hide their mouths – therefore the symptoms of herpes! In terms of treatment, only a minority of patients go to the doctor during a crisis: around 60% rely on self-medication – relying on the advice of the pharmacist, all the same.
Source: Vectans Pharma press release.
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