Herpes disease (oral & genital) -symptoms, causes and treatment | Biology lecture |

Herpes is an infection caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus). This virus affects the external genitalia, anal region, mucosal surfaces, and skin in other parts of the body.
Herpes is a long-term condition. However, many people never have symptoms even though they are carrying the virus.
Symptoms include blisters, ulcers, pain when urinating, cold sores, and vaginal discharge. Although there is no cure for herpes, it can be treated using medications and home remedies.

There are two types of herpes simplex viruses: HSV-1 (herpes type 1, or oral herpes) and HSV-2 (herpes type 2, or genital herpes)

Most people do not experience symptoms for months or years after becoming infected. Those who do have symptoms during the initial period will usually notice them about 4 days after exposure (the average range is 2-12 days).

Many people with HSV have recurring herpes. When a person is first infected, the recurrences tend to happen more frequently. Over time, however, the remission periods get longer, and each occurrence tends to become less severe.

Primary infection symptoms

Primary infection is a term used for an outbreak of genital herpes that occurs when a person is first infected. The symptoms can be quite severe and may include:

• blisters and ulceration on external genitalia, in the vagina, or on the cervix

• vaginal discharge

• pain and itching

• tender, enlarged lymph nodes

• pain when urinating

• high temperature (fever)

• malaise (feeling unwell)

• cold sores around the mouth

• red blisters on the skin

In most cases, the ulcers will heal, and the individual will not have any lasting scars.

Recurrent infection symptoms

Symptoms that occur in a recurrent infection tend to be less severe and do not last as long as they do in the primary infection stage. Typically, symptoms will last no more than 10 days and include:

• burning or tingling around genitals before blisters appear

• women may have blisters and ulceration on the cervix

• cold sores around the mouth

• red blisters

Eventually, recurrences happen less often and are much less severe.

Causes

When HSV is present on the surface of the skin of an infected person, it can easily be passed on to someone else through the moist skin that lines the mouth, anus, and genitals. The virus may also spread to another individual through other areas of skin, as well as the eyes.

A human cannot become infected with HSV by touching an object, work surface, washbasin, or towel that has been touched by an infected person. Infection can occur in the following ways:

• having unprotected vaginal or anal sex

• having oral sex with a person who gets cold sores

• sharing sex toys

• having genital contact with an infected person

The virus is most likely to be passed on just before the blister appears, when it is visible, and until the blister is completely healed. HSV can still be transmitted to another person when there are no signs of an outbreak, although it is less likely.

If a mother with genital herpes has sores while giving birth, it is possible that the infection will be passed on to the baby.

Prevention tips

To reduce the risk of developing or passing on genital herpes:

• use condoms when having sex

• do not have sex while symptoms are present (genital, anal, or skin-to-skin)

• do not kiss when there is a cold sore around the mouth

• do not have many sexual partners

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