Stages of Herpes

Herpes, also referred to as herpes simplex, is a chronic disease caused due to the infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes - oral herpes and genital herpes. The former type causes cold sores and blisters around the mouth and face, whereas the latter affects the genital and buttock area. Oral herpes is mostly caused by type 1 herpes virus (HSV-1) and genital herpes is due to type 2 herpes virus (HSV-2). Nevertheless, each of these viruses can lead to both types of disease conditions. In general, the signs and symptoms of herpes manifest within 2-20 days after infection in a series of stages.

Stages of Herpes

The stages of herpes caused by both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are almost the same. As already mentioned, the areas of infection by type 1 and type 2 viruses may be different. Thus, the physical characteristics of oral and genital herpes are identical. In the initial stages of infection, an individual may experience the warning signs of herpes outbreak, which if left untreated may lead to noticeable sores and lesions. Following are the successive stages of herpes.

Reddening of Skin
As soon as the herpes virus comes into contact with skin, it causes reddening of the skin area. After a few days of infection, the individual may experience severe itching and/or irritation on the affected area. Some people reported to have pain in the area.

Inflammation and Swelling
If the early outbreak signs of herpes such as reddening and itching are not treated at the right time, then the area tend to swell and become inflamed. Though swelling of the affected area may be very severe, it is not physically visible in some cases.

Blisters
Shortly, small red bumps emerge at the swelling site, which progress into fluid-filled blisters. Blisters may appear clear, whitish or reddish in color. In some cases, blisters develop in groups. After the blisters erupt, wet ulcers develop in the area. This is the most painful stage of herpes infection.

Ulcers
Wet ulcers are reddish, similar to fresh cuts and very sensitive to touch. They appear slightly raised from the surrounding skin areas. As wet ulcers start healing, dry crust are formed, which eventually harden. A new skin develops beneath the crust as the sores heal completely. With the next few days, the skin crust falls off leaving the new skin.

Usually, herpes heal without scarring the skin tissue. However, scar may develop if the scabs are peeled before healing. In case of scarring, topical ointments are used to get rid of scars. In addition to these stages, flu like symptoms such as fever and headache may accompany herpes. The symptoms of herpes can be managed if diagnosed in the reddening and swelling stages. The treatment of herpes in the early outbreaks also minimizes the chances of recurrent evidences.

It is to be noted that the progression of herpes is not the same for every infected individual. In fact, many people infected with herpes virus do not manifest visible symptoms. Studies reveal that the progression of herpes and recurrences depend on the stress level and immune responses of an individual. Hence, people who tend to have stress may experience frequent recurrences, while those with proper stress management do not suffer the same.

Herpes is a contagious disease and can be transmitted from one infected individual to another through the direct skin contact. Hence, genital herpes is categorized under sexually transmitted disease (STD). Herpes virus can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. It is estimated that about 80 million Americans are infected with herpes and one in every five adults have genital herpes.