Herpes
What is Herpes?
Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.It causes painful blisters and sores in and around the genital area. Around 20,000 cases are diagnosed in genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK alone every year, a lot more worldwide and more cases are seen in general practice and gynaecology clinics.
Genital herpes is best prevented by using condoms with new sexual partners or with any partner who has a previous history of genital herpes. Avoid sexual contact with a partner with active genital infection, or oral sex if cold sores are active round the partner's mouth.
Within a week of contact with an infected person, a red, painful rash appears on the genitals or nearby. The rash soon blisters, and the blisters burst, releasing fluid. This is full of new virus particles, so this is the infectious stage of the illness, when it can be passed to another person. There is a risk of passing it on from when the rash appears through to when the last blister has burst, scabbed and dried. During this active infection phase, the person usually feels feverish, unwell and exhausted. Lymph glands in the groin enlarge and become sore. Symptoms of getting herpes:
- painful, fluid filled blisters or sores which will burst in 10-21 days to give small, painful ulcers.
- Lymph nodes in the groin area will get enlarged.
- painful urination, especially in women.
- burning, tingling or itching in the genital area.
- discharge from genitals of males and females.
- fever and body aches.
Sometimes, you will get cold sores around the mouth. Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of HSV, and both can cause genital herpes.
Herpes Symptoms
The majority of people who've been infected with HSV never know they have the disease because they have no signs or symptoms. The signs and symptoms of HSV can be so mild they go unnoticed. The first outbreak is generally the worst, and some people never experience a second outbreak. Other people, however, can experience outbreaks as long as 40 years after the initial outbreak.When present, genital herpes symptoms may include:
- Small red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal or nearby areas
- Pain or itching around your genital area, buttocks or inner thighs
In women, sores can erupt in the vaginal area, external genitals, buttocks, anus or cervix. In men, sores can appear on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus or thighs or inside the urethra, the channel inside the penis leading to the bladder. While you have ulcers, it may be painful to urinate. You may also experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the infection clears. During an initial outbreak, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms, such as headache, muscle aches and fever, as well as swollen lymph nodes in your groin.
Recurrences
Genital herpes is different for each person. The signs and symptoms may recur for years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. For many people, however, the outbreaks are less frequent as time passes. Various factors may trigger outbreaks, including:
- Stress
- Menstruation
- Immune system suppression, from medications such as steroids or chemotherapy, or due to infections, such as HIV/AIDS
- Illness
- Surgery
- Friction, such as that caused by vigorous sexual intercourse
- Fatigue
