Genital herpes is considered as the most common sexually transmitted disease which affects both sexes.
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There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2 and both types of the virus can cause skin changes. HSV-1 usually causes cold sores or fever blisters around mouth although it can be spread to the genital area during oral sex. HSV-2 commonly causes the genital herpes. This virus spreads through sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact. Various factors may trigger the virus: illness, fatigue, stress, hormonal changes (menstruation, pregnancy), general weakness, psychic tension, exposing to the sun.
The early symptoms of primary genital herpes infection appear two to ten days after the person was infected and they last two to three weeks. First symptom of infection is itching or burning sensation of genital or anal area. Several days after the infection small red bumps on the infected area may appear which then rupture painfully and become ulcers that bleed. After that the healing crusts appear leaving skin without a scar. Infected person can have fever, headache and pain in muscles, painful and hard urination and swollen lymph glands in the groin.
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. People who had genital herpes once could predict that the virus is about to be active by the first signs: itching or burning sensation of genital or anal area, and pain in legs.
Genital herpes is different in each person. Some people experience numerous episodes each year, some will carry active virus without developing any noticeable symptoms, or in another words, they will not have visible skin changes but they will spread the virus to their sexual partner. It is believed that in 70 percent of cases genital herpes is transmitted by sexual contact from a person who has asymptomatic shedding of the virus.
The infected pregnant woman can transfer the virus to a child during the pregnancy or giving birth. In the newborn babies genital herpes may result in brain damage, blindness or death. Genital herpes, like any other genital disease which cause skin wounds increases the possibility of HIV infection. People who have HIV, meaning that they already have damaged immune system, can have severe and long-lasting symptoms of an active herpes infection.
There are no medicines which will heal genital herpes, only a medicine that mitigate the symptoms. The infected area must be kept clean and dry and hands must be well washed if they were in contact with the infected skin. Couples should avoid sexual contact until the new skin appears and the crust disappears. ■