Sexual Health Information on Genital Herpes
An infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV: type I and type II.
Type I mainly causes cold sores, though it can infect the genitals and is likely to recur after an initial attack.
Type II herpes only affects the genitals.
Genital herpes is spread by intimate sexual contact, especially oral sex. An infected person may not have any visible sores or ulcers in their mouth.
Symptoms:
There are 2 phases in genital herpes - primary/first episode herpes and recurrent herpes.
Primary / First Episode Herpes
Primary infection with genital herpes is usually more severe and lasts longer than recurrent attacks, generally 2 to 3 weeks .
Groups of small blisters are the first signs.
The blisters usually break down to form shallow ulcers in the genital/ anal area.
Swelling of groin lymph glands.
Recurrent Herpes
Recurrent herpes is usually milder than the primary infection and usually heals within a week.
Recurrent herpes may be preceded by itch and irritation in the area where the blisters have not yet appeared.
Not everyone who is infected with HSV gets recurrent attacks and there is no way of predicting how often the attacks will occur.
In general the attacks tend to become less frequent as time goes by.
Herpes recurs because the virus hides in the nerve roots between attacks and reappears periodically to cause symptoms and signs.
Prevention:
Using condoms for anal and oral sex will reduce your chances of getting infected.
But sometimes all it takes is skin contact for the virus to spread.
Once infected, telling your current and previous sexual partners will prevent them passing it to others.
Cure:
Diagnosed by its characteristic clinical appearance, and a culture test helps to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for herpes. Once you have it, you are infected for life.
However it is not a life threatening infection in adults
Anti-viral drugs may be prescribed after an initial attack.
For most people, subsequent attacks are relatively mild and of short duration.
No drugs to date have been shown to halt or reduce the number of recurrent attacks permanently.
Type I mainly causes cold sores, though it can infect the genitals and is likely to recur after an initial attack.
Type II herpes only affects the genitals.
Genital herpes is spread by intimate sexual contact, especially oral sex. An infected person may not have any visible sores or ulcers in their mouth.
Symptoms:
There are 2 phases in genital herpes - primary/first episode herpes and recurrent herpes.
Primary / First Episode Herpes
Primary infection with genital herpes is usually more severe and lasts longer than recurrent attacks, generally 2 to 3 weeks .
Groups of small blisters are the first signs.
The blisters usually break down to form shallow ulcers in the genital/ anal area.
Swelling of groin lymph glands.
Recurrent Herpes
Recurrent herpes is usually milder than the primary infection and usually heals within a week.
Recurrent herpes may be preceded by itch and irritation in the area where the blisters have not yet appeared.
Not everyone who is infected with HSV gets recurrent attacks and there is no way of predicting how often the attacks will occur.
In general the attacks tend to become less frequent as time goes by.
Herpes recurs because the virus hides in the nerve roots between attacks and reappears periodically to cause symptoms and signs.
Prevention:
Using condoms for anal and oral sex will reduce your chances of getting infected.
But sometimes all it takes is skin contact for the virus to spread.
Once infected, telling your current and previous sexual partners will prevent them passing it to others.
Cure:
Diagnosed by its characteristic clinical appearance, and a culture test helps to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for herpes. Once you have it, you are infected for life.
However it is not a life threatening infection in adults
Anti-viral drugs may be prescribed after an initial attack.
For most people, subsequent attacks are relatively mild and of short duration.
No drugs to date have been shown to halt or reduce the number of recurrent attacks permanently.
posted by Oscar Atadero | 1:44 AM
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