Genital herpes – symptoms and treatment

Genital herpes is a highly contagious viral sexual infection, which is characterized by painful reappearing blisters and wounds on the skin. The treatment of herpes is necessary.

Genital herpes is an STD caused by the herpes virus: the most commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), less often Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1). In women, the disease has slang name- vaginal herpes. HSV-1 usually affects the region around the mouth, but it also appears on the genitals (transmitted through oral sex), while HSV-2 usually occurs on the genitals.

HSV-1 basically occurs as a fever (small red blisters) that people get on the lips and mouth and there is no reason to be treated as sexual disease, since it can be transmitted in many ways, not just through sexual intercourse.

Genital herpes virus attack (HSV-2) starts as the appearance of a group of blisters on the penis and around the base of the penis, inside and around the vagina, or in and around the anus. The first occurrence of herpes is usually the worst, it lasts for weeks until the blisters eventually burst, discharge the pus, and begin to heal. The following appearances are usually less painful and wounds heal faster.

Statistics

When it comes to statistics, from 1970 until today, infection with genital herpes has increased by 30% in the United States, and it is expected that it is increasing in other parts of the world. Today, genital herpes is widespread STD in America, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men are infected with herpes in the USA.

Transmission of herpes

Genital herpes is transmitted through sexual contact, which makes it a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The blisters do not have to be visible on an infected person in order for you to get infected. So, you cannot be sure whether your sexual partner is infected. The virus is spread through contact of the skin of healthy people with the skin of an infected person during sexual intercourse. Transmission of herpes is therefore not carried out through body fluids that are secreted during sex, so that condoms are not very helpful. All this makes it difficult to control the virus, so it is easy to become infected.

Symptoms of herpes

Herpes symptoms are very noticeable, if present on the infected body. HSV-2 causes blisters in the genital region of both men and women, in a period of 3 weeks to 3 months after sexual contact with an infected person. The blisters first appear as small swelling, grow into the filled blisters and eventually burst discharging the pus.

How do herpes blisters look like?

If you've ever seen a fever on one's lips, blisters that occur in the genital region are quite similar, which makes sense, considering that it is infection caused by another type of the same virus. The blisters can be large or small, there may be only one blister and may be many that are grouped together. Other symptoms of genital herpes of moderate forms include:

• A fever (chills, increased temperature)
• Swollen glands.
• Blisters and swelling.
• Sore throat.

Herpes treatment

There are products that are used in fighting the herpes virus and which keep it under control by preventing outburst of the disease in the future. Some of the most popular products in the fight against herpes are Acyclovir, Famvir, Valtrex and Zovirax. None of these preparations can cause the complete removal of the virus from the body, but they can reduce its effect by strengthening the body. Some studies show that in this way the risk of transmitting herpes to your partner is reduced.

Treatment of genital herpes

Treatment of genital herpes is done to relief symptoms occurring as a result of wounds and blisters, and to reduce the time required for healing of the body.

It should start as soon as possible after the onset of a herpes outbreak. This is especially important for the attacks that are always reoccurring.

First treatment of herpes

Most people use antiviral drugs to find relief and faster recovery from the first herpes attack.

• Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famcyclovir (Famvir) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) are recommended for the treatment of the first attack of genital herpes.
• Nonprescription drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), can reduce pain and fever caused by herpes.
• Home treatment, such as sitting bath (when the buttocks, thighs and hips are in warm water), and wearing cotton underwear, significantly help healing of the wounds.

Be sure not to spread herpes further, i.e. refrain from sexual contact if you or your partner have symptoms of herpes.

Studies show that the antiviral drugs can make that first attack of herpes last four days less. But unfortunately, they cannot prevent the outbreak of genital herpes.

Subsequent treatment

The decision to take antiviral drugs for later attacks of herpes depends on the length of attacks, how dangerous they are and how often they return. People who do not have frequent and dangerous attacks may not wish to regularly i.e. continuously take medicines.

Antiviral drugs generally reduce the time needed for healing and reduce the frequency of the attacks. Additionally, they reduce the risk of transmission of HSV virus to your partner.

People can take antivirals for later attacks of herpes or

• Daily (suppressive therapy to reduce the risk of recurrences and reduce the duration of the attack when it eventually happens. This can be achieved to reduce the number of attacks for one or two episodes a year) or
• If necessary (some people start to take antiviral drugs only when they notice the first warning symptoms (tingling and pain) of the incoming attack. The doses of medicines that are taken have to be higher than when taken on a daily basis in order to have any effect. Antiviral drugs can reduce the time of healing of wounds for 2 days).

The study found that people with herpes virus that has heterosexual monogamous relationship with a partner, can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to partner by 50% if they daily take valacyclovir to prevent new outbreaks of herpes. Other antiviral drugs also reduce the risk of transmission, but further studies are necessary.

Home treatment, in the form of sitting baths and cotton laundry, as we have explained above, also helps in this case.

Treatment of genital herpes in people with weaker immune systems

People who have weakened immune system as a result of leukemia, HIV virus, i.e. AIDS, transplant and prolonged use of corticosteroids are at risk of even more dangerous infections of herpes. HSV virus in these people may be resistant to older antiviral therapies or may be more difficult to treat. Therefore, they may require some additional medications for successful treatment of genital herpes, or even higher doses of the medicines.

Herpes during pregnancy

CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has published a method for the treatment of herpes in pregnant women who have genital herpes. Therefore, when treating herpes during pregnancy, one should consider the following:

• Oral intake of acyclovir (Zovirax) may be prescribed to pregnant women in the case of the first attack of herpes, as well as in the case of dangerous subsequent attack of herpes.
• Acyclovir orally may be prescribed to pregnant women anytime during pregnancy, including the first trimester.
• Acyclovir may be given intravenously (IV) to pregnant women with dangerous HSV infection.
• Acyclovir can reduce the frequency of repeat attacks in pregnant women which are close to giving birth and thus reduce the possibility of the need for cesarean section during childbirth.
• If herpes blisters are present at the time of delivery, usually a Caesarean section is performed. A caesarean section may be recommended to women who have symptoms of tingling or pain, suggesting incoming attack. Acyclovir (Zovirax) which is taken during last 4 weeks of pregnancy can reduce the need for performing a cesarean section, reducing the risk of recurrent attacks of herpes at the time of childbirth.

Living with Herpes

So, for those who are infected by herpes, a healthy diet and appropriate training will be very important for quality of life, since they affect the strength of the immune system of the body, which helps in suppressing the virus. When the body is in better shape, the future occurrences of herpes are rarer.