Final answer:
It's true that while there is no cure for herpes, medications like acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir can control the frequency and severity of outbreaks by keeping the virus in a dormant phase. Without a cure, these medications manage symptoms and can also lower the risk of transmission, especially important in cases of genital herpes during pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, no cure exists for herpes, but medications can control the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, manage the infection by keeping the virus in a dormant phase and reduce signs and symptoms. If medication is discontinued, the condition may return to its original severity. Such medications may be taken at the start of an outbreak or daily as a method of prophylaxis to manage the symptoms.
Herpes infections can be diagnosed with blood tests that detect antibodies to the virus. While there is no cure, antiviral medications can prevent or shorten outbreaks and lessen the risk of transmission. In the case of genital herpes, pregnant women are usually prescribed antivirals during the last month of pregnancy to reduce the risk of an outbreak near birth, which is when the transmission to the infant is most likely.