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 Diseases and Conditions
Genital herpes
From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com Introduction Genital herpes is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease. The cause is a strain of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This virus enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. The illness is characterized by pain, itching and sores in your genital area. Sexual contact is the primary way that genital HSV spreads. It's almost impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person, because the virus dies quickly outside the body. In the past 10 years, the number of people in the United States who are infected with HSV has decreased. However, genital herpes is still common. According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HSV is present in as many as one in six teens and adults in the U.S. HSV affects both men and women. There's no cure for this recurrent (chronic) infection, which may cause embarrassment and emotional distress. Having genital herpes is no reason to avoid sex or give up on relationships though. If you or your partner is infected, you can manage the spread of HSV by taking steps to protect yourself and your partner. Open communication with your partner or potential partner is important. Signs and symptoms Many 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. About half of those infected with HSV have only one outbreak in their lifetimes. When present, signs and symptoms of genital herpes may include:
The initial symptom of genital herpes usually is pain or itching, beginning two to 10 days after exposure to an infected sexual partner. After several days, small, red bumps may appear. They then rupture, becoming ulcers that ooze or bleed. After three to four days, scabs form and the ulcers heal. 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 between the bladder and the penis. 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. Genital herpes is different for each person. The signs and symptoms may recur for years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. For most people, however, the outbreaks are less frequent. Various factors may trigger outbreaks, including:
In some cases, the infection can be active and contagious even when lesions aren't present. Causes Two types of herpes simplex virus infections can cause genital herpes. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is the type that usually causes cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth, though it can be spread to your genital area during oral sex. HSV type 2 (HSV-2) is the type that commonly causes genital herpes. The virus spreads through sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact. HSV-2 is very common and highly contagious whether you have an open sore or not. However, in many people the infection causes no recognized signs or symptoms and can still be spread to a sexual partner. Screening and diagnosis If you suspect you have genital herpes, see your doctor. Your doctor usually can diagnose herpes by taking a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters or early ulcers for examination in the laboratory. Because people with herpes commonly have other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV/AIDS, your doctor will likely examine you for such diseases as well. If you suspect that you previously had a herpes outbreak, a blood test can confirm past exposure to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. Complications In healthy adults, genital herpes generally doesn't cause other serious permanent complications besides the sores. However, people with weakened immune systems may have more severe and longer lasting outbreaks. Having genital herpes can increase the risk of transmitting or contracting other sexually transmitted diseases, including the AIDS virus. A mother with open sores can spread the infection to her newborn as the infant passes through the birth canal. Genital herpes may result in brain damage, blindness or death for the newborn. The infection is more common in infants born to mothers who are having their first outbreak of active herpes infection at the time of delivery. Treatment There's no cure for genital herpes. However, oral prescription antiviral medications, including acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex), can help heal the sores sooner and reduce the frequency of relapses. If taken daily, these medications may also reduce the chance you'll infect your partner with the herpes virus. Prevention The suggestions for preventing genital herpes are the same as those for preventing other sexually transmitted diseases. The key is to avoid being infected with HSV, which is highly contagious while lesions are present. The best way to prevent infection is to abstain from sexual activity or to limit sexual contact to only one person who is infection-free. Short of that, you can:
If you're pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor that you have HSV or, if unsure, ask to be tested for HSV. Watch for signs and symptoms of HSV during pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend that you start taking herpes antiviral medications when you're about 36 weeks pregnant to try to prevent an outbreak from occurring around the time of delivery. If you're having an outbreak when you go into labor, your doctor will probably suggest a Caesarean section to reduce the risk of passing the virus to your baby. Self-care If you have an active infection:
Remember that the virus can spread even when no symptoms are present. Wait until all sores are completely healed before resuming sexual activity, and always use latex condoms to reduce the chances that you'll infect your partner. August 31, 2006 |
