Genital herpes

Introduction: Genital herpes

Genital herpes is an incurable STD that is spread by sexual activity including oral sex. The cause is herpes virus type 2 whereas cold sores are caused by HSV-1. Although genital herpes is incurable, it can be controlled by various drugs, and typically subsides between episodic attacks called "flares". Complications are rare but the condition can be serious in the immunosuppressed and newborn babies. Pregnant women with herpes need to discuss the issue with their doctors to avoid infection of the newborn.

Symptoms of Genital herpes

• No symptoms - it is possible to be infected and not know it
• Sores - these can afflict various areas of the body
  • Red bumps - sores begin as small red bumps.
  • Blisters - sores then become blisters and then change into sores.
  • Vaginal sores

See full list of 27 symptoms of Genital herpes

Home Diagnostic Testing

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Medical Textbooks Online about Genital herpes

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Genital herpes?

• Misdiagnosis of Genital herpes
• Underlying causes of Genital herpes (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Causes of Genital herpes

• HSV type 1 - though less common than HSV type 2, the HSV-1 virus from cold sores can also cause genital herpes.

Read more about causes of Genital herpes

More information about causes of Genital herpes:

• Triggers for Genital herpes
• Underlying causes of Genital herpes
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Genital herpes

Treatments for Genital herpes

• Acyclovir (Zovirax®) - an antiviral drug
• Famciclovir (Famvir®)
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex®)
• Keep area clean and dry
• Avoid touching sores

See full list of 11 treatments for Genital herpes

Videos for Genital herpes

Patient Surveys for Genital herpes

• Patient Profile Survey
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Prognosis for Genital herpes

Prognosis for Genital herpes: Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD) ... HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

More about prognosis of Genital herpes

Reseach about Genital herpes

Visit our research pages for current research about Genital herpes treatments.

Prevention of Genital herpes

Prevention information for Genital herpes has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Genital herpes.

• Avoid unprotected sex
• Avoid unprotected oral sex

Read more about prevention of Genital herpes

Statistics for Genital herpes

• Medical statistics for Genital herpes
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Genital herpes
• Death and Mortality statistics for Genital herpes
• Society statistics for Genital herpes

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Article Excerpts about Genital herpes

Genital Herpes: DSTD (Excerpt)

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV -1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)

Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of HSV, and both can cause genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly infects the lips causing sores known as fever blisters or cold sores, but it also can infect the genital area and produce sores there. HSV type 2 is the usual cause of genital herpes, but it also can infect the mouth during oral sex. A person who has genital herpes infection can easily pass or transmit the virus to an uninfected person during sex. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Definitions of Genital herpes:

An infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area - (Source - WordNet 2.1)