Herpes

As mentioned above, Herpes is a disease caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. It is a communicable disease that can spread if you come in contact with the infected skin or bodily fluids of an infected person. Once a person is infected, the virus remains inside the body forever. It might become dormant for a while and reactivate suddenly due to some trigger. On reactivation, the virus can cause blisters and other symptoms.

There are over 100 types of herpes virus in nature. However, of these, only eight affect human beings. Here are the details:

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1)

This causes the most common type of herpes virus in humans. In most cases, it does not show any symptoms. However, it can cause oral herpes infection where cold sores are formed on, around, and inside the mouth. These sores tend to go away on their own within a couple of weeks. This virus can also spread to the genital area via oral sex.

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2)

This is not as common as the HSV-1 virus. It spreads through genital-to-genital contact. Many people don’t get any symptoms for many years. However, when the virus is triggered, it causes an outbreak in the form of itchy sores near the genitals and the areas surrounding them. These sores also heal within a week or two.

Human Herpes Virus 3 (HHV-3): Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

Herpes zoster infection is commonly known as chickenpox. It is a highly contagious virus that causes itchy rashes and other blisters that go away within a week or two.

Human Herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4): Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

Medical researchers believe that around 90% of the world’s population gets EBV at some point of time in their lives. However, most people are unaware of its presence because the symptoms are common with various other ailments. This is a self-limiting disease that stops the symptoms within a few days.

Human Herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5): Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

This is another herpes infection that seldom shows symptoms in the infected person. Hence, most people go through their lives without knowing that they have CMV.

Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Human Herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7)

Researchers still have a lot to learn about these two types of viruses. While HHV-6 is known to cause a range of symptoms in babies, in adults, the symptoms might be completely absent.HHV-7 has similar symptoms but is rarer than HHV-6.

Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8): Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus

This virus spreads through bodily fluids and can cause cancerous tumors called sarcomas.

Here are the symptoms of oral and genital herpes, two of the most common types of herpes infection:

Here are the causes of the different types of herpes virus:

Most people already have the herpes virus but are unaware since there are no symptoms. However, some factors increase the risk of more severe and long-lasting herpes infection. These factors are:

Weak immune system

People with a weak immune system are at a greater risk of having a herpes infection that lasts longer and has severe symptoms.

HIV infection

People with HIV have a decreased immunity to viruses. Hence, herpes infection tends to be more severe

Unprotected sex

Having multiple sexual partners and having unprotected sex exposes you to a higher risk of exposure to the herpes virus

Kissing

Mouth-to-mouth kissing increases the risk of herpes infection since the virus transmits through bodily fluids

A medical professional would physically examine the blisters to determine herpes infection. To confirm the observations, the following tests can be conducted:

The important thing to remember is that there is no herpes cure. Hence, the doctor will only be able to help manage the symptoms. Here are some treatment and herpes management options:

Medication

The doctor might prescribe a general antiviral medicine to reduce the speed with which the virus multiplies. He might also prescribe some creams and ointments to manage the itching and pain in the affected area.

Home remedies for symptom relief

Please remember that these tips are not to treat herpes but to manage the symptoms efficiently.

• • Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes

• Take pain medication if the doctor has prescribed it

• Bathe in warm water with a tiny amount of salt or soak in a warm sitz bath

• Use aloe vera gel on sores

• Refrain from any sexual activity even with protection until you have the symptoms

Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of getting herpes:

• Practice safe sex since genital-to-genital contact and mouth-to-genital contact are the primary reasons behind getting a herpes infection

• If you or your partner has a cold sore around the mouth, then you should avoid kissing and oral sex

• Maintain personal hygiene

• Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to keep your immunity high

While there is no treatment for herpes, if the symptoms get severe, the patient might need to get hospitalized immediately. This can be expensive and strain your finances. When you opt for a medical insurance plan from Tata AIG, you get a range of benefits including:

Extensive coverage: Tata AIG offers extensive coverage that protects you against a range of medical expenses like hospitalization, consultation charges, diagnostic tests, etc.

Cashless claim settlement: Tata AIG has a wide network of hospitals (7200+) that allows you to get a cashless treatment done in a hassle-free manner

Reducing premiums: With Tata AIG, you can be assured of highly competitive premium rates and policies that are packed with a range of features to offer the best coverage. However, if the premium is not within your budget, then you can opt for a co-payment or voluntary deductible to reduce the premium without compromising the coverage

**Health Insurance Tax Benefits

The Income Tax Act, 1961 offers a range of tax benefits to individuals and HUFs. Under Section 80D of the Act, policyholders can get tax deduction benefits for the premium paid on policies for themselves and their families, subject to the prevailing tax norms.

Here is a quick look at the process to buy Tata AIG health insurance:

Online Process

• Visit www.tataaig.com

• Navigate to the health insurance page by scrolling to the top menu on the home page and clicking on All Products >> Health Insurance. You can also visit the page by clicking here

• You can opt for an individual health insurance plan or include your spouse, children, and parents. Choose the members that you want to include

• Provide some personal details and click on “See Plans”

• Go through the list of plans displayed and choose the best one according to your needs

• Select the right sum insured. This will impact the total amount you can claim. However, a higher sum insured would mean a higher premium too. Hence, choose carefully.

• Click on ‘Buy Now’

• We will call you to complete the buying process

Offline purchase:

• Visit the nearest Tata AIG office

• Share your requirements with our representative and go through the plans offered

• Select the best plan for your needs

• Choose the perfect sum insured

• Fill out the required forms and attach the necessary documents

• Pay the fees

Tata AIG will ask you to submit several documents to establish your address, identity, and age to calculate your eligibility and coverage amount. While the final list of documents might vary, here is a quick look at some basic documents that you need to start the application process**

Age Proof Aadhar Card, passport, etc.

Address Proof Utility bill, bank statement, etc.

Identity Proof PAN Card, Aadhar Card, etc.

Medical History Doctor’s reports and test results of any pre-existing disease

Other documents IT returns, proof of income, etc.

If the herpes infection starts causing complications, then the patient needs to be immediately hospitalised. If you don’t have a medical insurance policy, then you have to bear all the costs. Hence, it is important to buy a health insurance policy that offers optimum coverage for your needs. Here are some things to look for in a health insurance plan**

Optimum sum insured The sum insured is the maximum coverage you can get from a health insurance policy. Medical costs are different in different cities and can also vary at different locations within a city. Hence, make sure that you have an idea of healthcare costs in your region before choosing the sum insured by the health insurance policy you plan to buy

Copayment and deductibles If you have chosen the coverage you want, but the premium is outside your budget, then you don’t need to compromise on the coverage to reduce the premium. Instead, you can opt for a copayment or deductible that keeps the coverage the same while reducing the premium.

Hospital Network Look for an insurance company with a wide network of hospitals, as it allows you to get a cashless treatment done and provides access to specialized healthcare providers in a hassle-free manner.

If you want to file a claim under your existing health insurance policy, then here are two options to consider:

1: Cashless claims

If your insurance provider provides cashless claims, then you can take a look at the network hospitals where the service is offered and get your treatment done at one of these hospitals. In cashless claim settlement, the insurance company pays the hospital directly without you having to pay and then claim reimbursement. Here are some things to remember for cashless claims:

Planned treatment: If you have planned your treatment, then inform the insurer about the hospital and treatment at least five days in advance

Emergency treatment: For emergencies, you must ensure that the insurance provider is informed at least within 24 hours of being admitted to the hospital

2: Reimbursement claims

If your insurer does not offer cashless hospitalization, then you will have to pay the hospital first and claim reimbursement later. This will also hold for policyholders who choose to get treated at a non-network hospital. Here are some things to remember for reimbursement claims:

• Talk to your insurer and get the list of documents that you will need to file your claim and get it processed

• Make sure that you have all documents from the doctor, testing labs, and hospitals, as requested by the insurer

• Collect all the documents requested by the insurer and submit them as requested

• As soon as you are discharged from the hospital, you can file the claim

Here are some additional tips for herpes claims:

• Make sure that your policy has not expired before you begin your treatment

• Go through the policy documents carefully and pay attention to the inclusions, exclusions, and terms of the policy

• Follow the claims process meticulously