A Family Doctor's Tale - GENITAL HERPES

DOC I HAVE GENITAL HERPES

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2).
Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.
Incubation peroid is 14 days to several weeks.

Most infected patients do not show any signs or symptoms from Genital herpes infection.
In the male, small blisters occur on the penis glans and on the both the scrotums. If the urethra is involved. there may be discharge and pain on urination.
In the female, there may be one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters normally break, leaving painful ulcers which may take two to four weeks to heal.
Typically, recurrence of the blisters may appear weeks or months after the first and is usually less severe and shorter than the first outbreak.The infection can stay in the body indefinitely with the number of outbreaks decreasing over a period of years.


Genital herpes is usaully a sexually transmitted disease.
Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (25%) than in men (20%).
This may be due to male-to-female transmissions.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses are found in and released from the blisters and ulcers that the viruses cause.
They also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore.
Transmission can therefore occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected.

HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes.
It however causes more infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "cold sores."
HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection.
Genital HSV-1 outbreaks does not recur as often as genital HSV-2 outbreaks.

The signs and symptoms of HSV-2 infection can vary greatly. Doctors can diagnose genital herpes by examination if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks.
The best way to confirm the presence of Genital herpes is to do a blood test for HSV1 and HSV2. The results however may not 100% accurate.
Most people infected with genital herpes do not know  of their infection.
Once the virus is transmitted, an outbreak usually occurs within two weeks and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. During the  primary episode, signs and symptoms may include a second crop of sores and sometimes fever and swollen glands. Most individuals with HSV-2 infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they do not even notice.

Most people diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several symptomatic recurrences within a year. Usually these recurrences decrease in frequency.

There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications like aycloclir  can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Genital ulcer diseases can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes only when the infected area or site of potential exposure is protected. Since a condom may not cover all infected areas, even correct and consistent use of latex condoms cannot guarantee protection from genital herpes.

Persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms of herpes are present. It is important to know that even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners. Sex partners of infected persons should be advised that they may become infected. Sex partners can seek testing to determine if they are infected with HSV. A positive HSV-2 blood test most likely indicates a genital herpes infection.

Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

In addition, genital HSV can cause potentially fatal infections in babies. It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a first episode during pregnancy causes a greater risk of transmission to the baby. If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually performed. Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare.

Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.