DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My sister, 57, lives with me and was diagnosed with Pick’s disease two years ago. Her dementia is rapidly progressing. I have taken her to many doctors, and they all confirm that the treatment she is on is the only one available. She is very depressed because she’s not going to see her granddaughters grow. Do you know of any agency that can guide me in a search for new treatments? – M.L.

ANSWER: I recently wrote about the general subject of dementia. Pick’s is another example of dementia, one that doesn’t get the coverage that Alzheimer’s disease gets. Pick’s has a second name – frontotemporal dementia, because, in this illness, the frontal and temporal brain lobes are affected. In those brain lobes, a microscopic inspection of brain tissue shows Pick bodies, unusual protein fragments in nerve cells. “Pick” comes from Dr. Arnold Pick, who described these bodies. He was a Czech physician who died in 1924.

Pick’s disease comes on at a relatively young age, younger than Alzheimer’s. The average age for its appearance is 50. Personality changes and inappropriate behavior are often the first signs. Affected people have a hard time expressing themselves. They find it difficult to choose a word and are often lost in understanding language. Apathy often rules their lives. Muscles can become weak.

Brain scans show shrinkage of the frontal and temporal lobes.

There is no specific medicine for Pick’s disease.

There is a group you can contact – the Association for Frontotemporal Dementias. The phone number is 866-507-7222, and the Web site is www.FTD-Picks.org.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My ex-boyfriend has genital herpes on his thigh and had two recurrences in the past 18 months. He is on no medicine for it. These recurrences did not occur while we were dating. We are both in our 50s. I thought this was a committed relationship, and we were intimate.

I have herpes-1 oral cold sores.

It is my understanding that if I test positive for herpes-2, I most likely have the genital herpes virus. I also know that oral herpes – herpes-1 – can infect the genital area. Can I assume that I only have herpes-1 and not genital herpes if I test positive for herpes-1 and not for herpes-2? Do I need to share with my next partner that I might have been infected with genital herpes? — R.S.

ANSWER: You’re a very honest person and are trying to do the right thing. Would that everyone were so honest.

You’re making life too difficult for yourself. You have never had an outbreak of genital herpes. Even though herpes-1 can infect the genital region, without ever having had a single sign of genital infection, the likelihood that you have a hidden genital infection is not great.

If you don’t test positive for the herpes-2 virus, I don’t think it is necessary for you to go into details about your ex-boyfriend and his herpes infection. I would assume you did not catch it.

The herpes booklet gives the details of these common infections. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 1202, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6.75 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I used to have canker sores. A neighbor told me to take L. lysine. I haven’t had another outbreak since I started. – D.C.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read your article on canker sores. I discovered a sure remedy, L. lysine. It works great. – M.D.

ANSWER: L. lysine is one of 20 amino acids. When amino acids hook up with one another, they form proteins. You two were not the only ones who wrote about L. lysine for canker sores (and for cold sores). I have known about this treatment for many years, but I haven’t ever found medical substantiation for it. Since so many wrote and since L. lysine is harmless, I have to bend my stuffy medical rigidity and publish the voice of the people.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have erythema nodosum. I have an outbreak of lumps on my legs. I have used all kinds of lotions, creams and liniments to no avail. I look for your comments. – D.R.

ANSWER: Erythema nodosum is an outbreak of crops of tender, red, warm nodules, usually on the shins. The nodules disappear, but outbreaks tend to recur. If there is a trigger, then treatment of that trigger treats erythema nodosum. Triggers include strep infection, TB, viral and fungal infections, the birth control pill, pregnancy, ulcerative colitis, sarcoidosis and medicines such as the sulfa drugs. Frequently, however, a trigger cannot be found.

Rest and leg elevation helps. Aspirin or Indocin has relieved the condition for some. Potassium iodide is another treatment, as is the gout medicine colchicine.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com