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Saturday, 15 December 2007 |
A viral infection (Herpes simplex virus) – The therapy’s purpose is to reduce the symptoms.
It is claimed as a main reason for adolescents to find doctor’s assistance – with the tendency to grow within the last couple of years.
Herpes simplex virus exists in two forms: type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-).
Genital herpes is often caused by type 2, while type 1 usually causes lesions around the mouth. Oral sex with a person infected with HSV-1 could lead to spreading of the disease from mouth to sexual organs, or more exactly, cause genital herpes – type 2.
The disease would always occur again, especially in the first few years after the first attack. The symptoms are milder within the following onsets of the disease. However, the general state would be equally contagious. HSV may cause a strong illness within newly born infants during birth. The first onset of genital herpes is usually the strongest and it occurs within 5 days after contact with the diseased person.
The symptoms could be:
- Painful, liquid filled blisters on the genitals
- (Thighs, bottom, rectum, mouth)
- Gooseflesh, stinging, wounds and red coloring on the diseased area
- Raised number of painful lymph humps on the groin
- Vaginal secretion
After 10-21 days the symptoms usually disappear, but during new onsets, they attack the same areas. The practitioner will set the diagnosis based on the symptoms and physical checkups.
Genital herpes cannot be cured. However, aciclovir and some other antiviral drugs are used during every onset. If you take aciclovir at the right time, the strength of the symptoms would be greatly reduced. Regular preventive treatment could reduce the number of onsets, especially if they aren’t often.
After getting infected with HSV, the virus stays inside the body hidden (within the ganglia), however, the infection could spread at any moment – especially during big stressful situations, hard work or menstrual periods. About 2 out of 10 persons have only one onset. The others could have several onsets a year within a couple of years.
In most cases, the symptoms are milder within the following onsets and the time between the onsets becomes longer. The risk of HSV infection is reduced by persistent use of condoms. However, condoms cannot always ensure complete protection because other areas away from genitals could also be infected. The virus could be spread even if there are no blisters.
If a pregnant woman has an onset of genital herpes immediately before delivery, a cesarean section could be done in order to prevent infection of the newly born infant. An infected woman should at least once a year take the PAPA-test because HSV-2 could be linked with cervical cancer.
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Genital herpes 
