Genital Herpes - Know About Your Disease In Less Than 1 Min

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus.

#Causes:-

Genital herpes affects the skin or mucous membranes of the genitals. The virus is spread from one person to another during sexual contact.

There are 2 types of herpes simplex virus (HSV):

HSV-1 most often affects the mouth and lips and causes cold sores or fever blisters. But it can spread from the mouth to the genitals during oral sex.

HSV type 2 (HSV-2) most often causes genital herpes. It can be spread through skin contact or through fluids from the mouth or genitals.

You may become infected with herpes if your skin, vagina, penis, or mouth comes into contact with someone who already has herpes.

You are most likely to get herpes if you touch the skin of someone who has herpes sores, blisters, or a rash. But the virus can still be spread, even when no sores or other symptoms are present. In some cases, you do not know you are infected.

#Symptoms:-

Many people with genital herpes never have sores. Or they have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for insect bites or another skin condition.

If signs and symptoms do occur during the first outbreak, they can be severe. This first outbreak most often happens within 2 days to 2 weeks of being infected.

General symptoms may include:

Decreased appetite

Fever

General sick feeling (malaise)

Muscle aches in the lower back, buttocks, thighs, or knees

Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the groin

Genital symptoms include small, painful blisters filled with clear or straw-colored fluid. Areas where the sores may found include:

Outer vaginal lips (labia), vagina, cervix, around the anus, and on the thighs or buttocks (in women)

Penis, scrotum, around the anus, on the thighs or buttocks (in men)

Tongue, mouth, eyes, gums, lips, fingers, and other parts of the body (in both genders)

Before the blisters appear, there may be tingling, burning, itching, or pain at the site where the blisters will appear. When the blisters break, they leave shallow ulcers that are very painful. These ulcers crust over and heal in 7 to 14 days or more.

#Treatment:-

Genital herpes cannot be cured. Medicines that fight viruses (such as acyclovir or valacyclovir) may be prescribed.

These medicines help relieve pain and discomfort during an outbreak by healing the sores more quickly. They seem to work better during a first attack than in later outbreaks.

For repeat outbreaks, the medicine should be taken as soon as tingling, burning, or itching begins, or as soon as blisters appear.

People who have many outbreaks may take these medicines daily over a period of time. This helps prevent outbreaks or shorten their length. It can also reduce the chance of giving herpes to someone else.

Side effects are rare with acyclovir and valacyclovir.

Pregnant women may be treated for herpes during the last month of pregnancy to reduce the chance of having an outbreak at the time of delivery. If there is an outbreak around the time of delivery, a C-section will be recommended. This reduces the chance of infecting the baby.

#Prevention:-

If you have genital herpes, you should tell your partner that you have the disease, even if you do not have symptoms.

Condoms are the best way to protect against catching genital herpes during sexual activity.

Use a condom correctly and consistently to help prevent spread of the disease.

Only latex condoms prevent infection. Animal membrane (sheepskin) condoms do not work because the virus can pass through them.

Using the female condom also reduces the risk of spreading genital herpes.

Although it is much less likely, you can still get genital herpes if you use a condom.

#Alternative Names:-

Herpes - genital; Herpes simplex - genital; Herpesvirus 2; HSV-2; HSV-antivirals.

Note:- The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.