Genital Herpes: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Genital herpes is a condition that manifests when the herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the body through some direct contact with herpes sores, sexually or otherwise. The fatality is that the condition cannot be cured and hence, once the virus enters the body, it remains there for a whole lifetime. There are a number of people who do not even develop symptoms. The ignorance results in them remaining unaware of the presence of this virus. The incubation period (the time from exposure to primary outbreak) could be anything between 2 to 14 days. Genital herpes dates back to the early 1900s. There were a number of studies conducted on various strains of the virus. In 1919, Lowenstein, a scientist, confirmed that the herpes virus was infectious.

Symptoms

Flu-like symptoms are accompanied by blisters around the genitals and/or anus, during the incubation period. When the blisters break they convert to painful, oozing sores that take nothing less than three weeks to cure (without treatment). The herpes simplex virus remains dormant in the nerve cells, without the manifestation of any indicant. The virus becomes active recurrently, causing the onslaught of the blisters and sores, with or without trigger factors such as stress, change of sex partners and/or menstruation. The tingling, burning and numbness, also referred to as prodrome, is absolutely unmistakable. The clusters of genital sores are very painful. Each cluster comprises papules and vesicles that are inflamed. In the case of males, the lesions occur on the penis shaft or surrounding genital region or anus. In the case of females, the lesions are commonly observed on or around the pubis, vulva, labia or anus. The common symptoms are:

• Discharge from the penis or vagina.
• Severe headache and fever.
• Myalgia or muscle pain.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Malaise.
• Dysuria or painful urination.
• Cervicitis.
• Herpetic proctitis or inflammation of the rectum and/or anus.
• Acute urine retention.
• Paresthesia and rash.

Genital herpes is known to trigger other health problems in the case of people who have impaired immune systems. A newborn may be infected with HSV, if the mother experiences the primary outbreak at the time of delivery.

Treatment Options

The main goal of the treatment options, designed to treat the onslaught of genital herpes, is to reduce the discomfort caused by the sores and heal an outbreak within the least amount of time. Initial treatment involves the administration of antiviral medication. These include acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir components. The non-prescription drugs suggested for the treatment include ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, to reduce the pain and fever. Alternative remedies include:

• Taking warm sitz baths.
• Wearing only cotton underwear, to promote healing.
• Avoiding any sexual contact.
• Topical application of acyclovir or Zovirax ointment.

Important Facts

Genital herpes is spread by sexual contact and not by touching commonly used objects, such as the toilet seat. The virus is not air-borne.

The herpes virus cannot reproduce without the help of a cell. Once a human cell is infected with the virus, it splits into numerous new forms, resulting in cell death and tissue damage.

The herpes virus affects newborn babies with a condition called neonatal herpes infection. Babies are infected when in contact with the infected region, while being propelled along the birth canal during delivery. Most doctors suggest a Cesarean section in the case of women with active genital herpes.

The virus that causes genital herpes and cold sores is the same. Hence, HSV can spread to or from the mouth, genitals or anus, on contact with this medium.