Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted, caused by a virus called the Herpesvirus disease type 2 or HSV2, characterized by the recurrent appearance and the lifetime of Vesicular lesions in the genital area. Unlike what happens with HPV, infection by HSV2 if it is an infection for life, which cannot be cured or is cured spontaneously and whose only treatment are the antiherpetic that limit the duration of primary infection and recurrent crises. Up to 10% of herpetic infection genital are caused by type 1 (HSV1), causal agent of cold sores.

What are the symptoms of herpes?

In primary infection: to acquire the infection for the first time the patient will feel a little evil for some days: discomfort, muscle discomfort, low intensity after 6-7 days fever are small vesicles of Red base, very painful (burning demonic) they gather in clusters and they last from 2 to 6 weeks and the symptoms will gradually diminishes until it disappears the manifestation of infection

There is recurrence time from initial infection, initially attacks are close (weeks) and painful but with the elapse of time become ever more sporadic, less annoying and less durable.

During periods of infection (when visible vesicles) virus is transmissible from one person to another at least in people that they manifest symptoms, asymptomatic patients infectious capacity cannot be known

How is it diagnosed?

Most of the infected patients (75%) not manifest any symptoms during the initial infection or during recurrences and in some cases the symptoms can appear years after exposure: This means that in most cases no a diagnosis and the / (the) patient transmitted to their partners without knowing it.

Clinic: viral manifestations are so typical that the diagnosis is easy to do in 25% of patients that show infection: small (less than 1 mm) vesicles with liquid light, in any part of the external genital tract, red base that are single or grouped in clusters or ulcerated lesions, which arden as the demon and can be accompanied by swelling of the local nodes (English), malaise and low-grade fever.

Cytology: the Pap smear can be observed cellular changes typical of viral infection by HSV-2 (inclusion bodies)

Laboratory: study in blood can determine the presence of antibodies markers that determine the presence of the virus (serology for HSV-2). You recently become evident the viral infection through detection of viral DNA in active lesions (PCR test)

What treatment is needed?

Genital herpes is never cured (at least until they develop a vaccine) and occurred after the primary infection are scanned an undetermined number of recurrent infections. We do not cure it but we can control it partially. Current medicines do not prevent acquisition of infection (i.e., I take the pill and then I go to bed with an infected person, does not work)

Drugs: we use a scheme of high doses of antiviral drugs via oral (tablets) and local (cream) to shorten and limit the symptoms of primary infection and relapses

General measures

Use cotton underwear loose, which do not touch the lesions; keep the area clean and dry to prevent associated bacterial infections, use anti-inflammatory analgesics to control local symptoms and General, compresses of camomile tea or the hemorrhagic relieve pain and local manifestations

What can I do

• Practice safe sex and protection until not know well your partner and sexual habits, past or present.
• If you are a carrier of Herpes notifies your partner about the presence of the virus and the possibility of infection if you don't use condoms.
• Avoid sexual intercourse during periods of recurrence of the infection or used condoms to prevent transmission to your partner.

What should I do

• Having sexual contact during the disease activity without notifying your partner: a perverse form of revenge!
• Automedicarte: the use of creams alters the characteristics of the lesions, it makes more difficult the diagnosis and may cause secondary complications such as bacterial infection.
• Do not directly touch lesions to prevent the spread of the virus to other parts of the body.

Recovery time

Genital herpes is not cured, but can be controlled with appropriate medication. Relapses will be less frequent, long-lasting and troublesome but never disappear completely

Physical or emotional stress, malnutrition, and chronic or debilitating diseases cause recurrence of disease

What can you do?

• Practice safe sex.
• Talk to your partner.
• Practice mutual monogamy.
• Use your medications as instructed by your doctor whether to treat the episode in the process or prevent future.