What is this Condition?
Genital herpes is a viral infection that causes acute inflammation of the genitalia. The first episode usually is self-limiting but may cause painful genital symptoms or even disease of the body as a whole. After the initial episode, the virus remains dormant in the body, causing recurrent outbreaks. These recurrences, which tend to be milder, may be triggered by stress, illness, and overexposure to sunlight.
What Causes it?
The usual cause of genital herpes is infection with herpes simplex virus type 2. Typically, the disease spreads through sexual intercourse, oral Âgenital sexual activity, kissing, and hand-to-body contact. Pregnant women may pass the infection to their newborns during vaginal delivery.
What are its Symptoms?
About 3 to 7 days after a person is infected with herpes simplex virus. fluid-filled blisters appear, usually on the cervix and possibly on the labia, skin around the rectum, external genitalia, or vagina of the woman and on the penis or foreskin of the man. Blisters may also appear on the mouth or anus. Usually painless at first, the blisters soon erupt into painful ulcers with yellow oozing centers. Often, the lymph glands located along the top of the thigh become tender.
During the initial infection, the person may also have fever, a general ill feeling, painful urination and, in women, a white vaginal discharge.
How is it Diagnosed?
The doctor diagnoses genital herpes by examining the person and taking a history. Lab tests may show characteristic antibody and cell findings. The diagnosis is confirmed if the virus appears in fluid from blisters, or is implicated in tests that identifY specific antigens.
How is it Treated?
The drug Zovirax is effective against genital herpes. The doctor will prescribe oral Zovirax for people with first-time infections or frequent recurrences. Some people take it daily for prevention; used daily, it reduces the frequency of recurrences by at least 50%. People hospitalized with severe genital herpes and those with weak immune systems who have potentially life-threatening herpes infection may receive intravenous Zovirax.