<General>

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV); HSV-1 (which usually causes cold sores and mainly under 25years old ) and HSV-2 (which usually causes genital herpes and mainly over 25 years old ).

The viruses get into your body through your mucous membranes. They can be found in your nose, mouth, and genitals.

Once the viruses are inside your body, they incorporate themselves into your cells and then stay in the nerve cells of your pelvis.

Sexual contact is the primary way that the virus spreads.

Cold sores on the mouth are a potential source of genital infection during mouth-to-genital contact (oral sex).

<Symptom>

Occult period is 2 to 12 days(max 30 days).

In the first episode, general flu-like symptoms may occur – feeling unwell, fever, headaches or pains in the back and legs and swollen and tender lymph nodes in the groin, vaginal discharge or painful urination. 

The infected site often starts to itch, or tingle, before the actual appearance of blisters.within 1-3mm in size.

The blisters may become ulcerated (open sores) and ooze fluid.

A crust may appear over the sores within a week of the outbreak.

General symptoms for males include blisters on the penis, scrotum, or buttocks (near or around the anus)in male, and blisters around or near the vagina, anus, and buttocks in female.

Smptoms may last for 2-4 weeks at first general herpes.

After the first infection, recurrent outbreaks are occurred later. These are usually shorter, not as painful as the first attack, and can be triggered by: physical stress such as, emotional stress, sunlight, a viral infection,hormonal changes (including menstruation) and friction in the genital area

<Diagnosis>

Your doctor usually can diagnose genital herpes based only on a physical exam.

It may be useful to diagnose by certain laboratory tests:

Viral culture, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test,Blood test. Antibody for HSV

<Treatment>

There's no cure for genital herpes. Treatment with prescription antiviral medications may help sores heal sooner in the first infection ,lessen the severity and duration of symptoms in recurrent outbreaks, and reduce the frequency of recurrence.

Antiviral medications used for genital herpes include:

Acyclovir (Zovirax),Valacyclovir (Valtrex) for 5days

 

Ohori Park Clinic

Internal medicine, Cosmetic dermatology, Gynecology,Headache outpatient Clinic

THE APARTMENT 2B,2-35 ,OHORIKOEN,CHUOKU,FUKUOKA CITY, 810-0051,JAPAN

Tel: 092-724-5520