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Overview of causes,, symptoms, effects, and treatment....

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Genital Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by a virus leading to painful sores in genital and surrounding areas. It is characterized by painful sores, blisters, and itching in the genital area though many individuals experience no symptoms or very mild ones. There is no cure but there are medications that manage outbreaks and reduce the risk of transmission. It remains in the body permanently and can be both inactive and active at times.

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The pathogen that causes genital herpes is herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main types of HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes Simplex Virus 2(HSV-2). Genital Herpes would be considered HSV-2. HSV-1, however, can also cause genital herpes by oral-genital contact.

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Some individuals are asymptomatic meaning they do not experience any symptoms. Some individuals however experience symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, itching and burning sensations before the appearance of sores and painful blisters or ulcers in genital area.

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Genital Herpes can not be cured. It will always remain in the body. However, it can be managed by antiviral medications such as Acyclovir pictured above and Valacyclovir. These medications help reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. They are to be taken daily as suppressive therapy for frequent outbreaks.

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Herpes can be transmitted during childbirth. The condition is classified as neonatal herpes if contracted during delivery. Although rare, it can cause serious and potentially fatal illness. Effects can include breathing difficulties, blindness, organ damage, brain damage, and seizures. Baby can also display visible sores. Early detection and treatment are crucial to minimize complications.

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There can be long-term effects of genital herpes. Chronic pain at the infection site is a symptom that can linger for a long time, go away, and come back. One may also experience reoccurring outbreaks throughout life. An infected individual would also have an increased risk of HIV infection. Contracting the disease can also lead to psychological effects such as anxiety and depression.

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Genital Herpes is spread by skin to skin contact between two individuals. If an individual has an open sore or is experiencing viral shedding then they can spread the virus by having sex with another individual or simply any skin contact in that area. Viral Shedding is defined as the presence of the virus on the skin or mucous membrane, even when there are no visible symptoms or outbreaks. The graph shows the duration of viral shedding.

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The graphic shows the stages of genital herpes. It first appears as small blisters visible on the surface of the skin. The blisters turn into soft wet ulcers basically dissolving the skin. A new layer of skin begins to form over the virus. The skin then surfaces as normal again but the virus remains in the body.

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You can help from spreading the virus, if you know you have it, by taking your medication daily and refraining from sex if you are having an active outbreak. If you are not a person with the virus already, it is highly recommended to practice safe sex (although it may still be spread using protection), examining your partner's genitalia, getting tested frequently and sharing results with your partner and overall minimizing the amount of sexual partners you have.