Genital herpes: symptoms, causes and treatment

 Genital herpes: symptoms, causes and treatment

What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that occurs due to exposure to infection with the genital herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus causes the appearance of painful blisters on the skin that are itchy and sore and filled with a clear fluid. Infection with the genital herpes virus may not cause any symptoms, but the infected person remains infectious to others despite this. There is no treatment that can permanently clear the virus from the body, but antiviral medications are available to treat and terminate the symptoms.

Types of herpes simplex virus

The herpes simplex virus strain includes two types of viruses, namely, herpes simplex virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2. The two types of herpes simplex virus are similar in many characteristics, but they have a genetic difference that leads to their classification as two separate types.

* Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1)

The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is the cause of most of the oral, pharyngeal and conjunctival infections that result from exposure to HSV infection. In general, this type of herpes simplex is responsible for infecting the upper half of the body. This virus is transmitted through the air and saliva and infects most people before puberty and is not accompanied by any symptoms in most cases.

* Herpes simplex virus (HSV-2)

Herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) is the genital type of herpes simplex virus, and it is the cause of infection in the lower half of the body, specifically the genital area. Infection with this virus occurs during adulthood and reproductive activity and is mainly transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her child during childbirth.

Genital herpes infection by categories

Symptoms of infection can differ between men and women, and genital herpes affects children differently than adults.

Genital herpes in women

When women have genital herpes, painful skin blisters with a red base appear. These blisters can appear on the visible genitals, cervix, or vaginal area. Genital herpes in women can also lead to vulvitis, dysuria, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

Genital herpes in children

The genital herpes virus is transmitted to children by an infected pregnant mother during childbirth, and infection of children during childbirth is dangerous because it causes weak immunity to the child. The child appears to have a skin lesion similar to that of an adult. The lesion may also be associated with systemic symptoms such as an enlarged liver, jaundice, fever and encephalitis, and may end in the death of the child if not treated. Infection of the fetus inside the womb may lead to miscarriage, premature birth, growth retardation, brain malformations, and chorioretinitis in the eye.

Symptoms of genital herpes

Symptoms of genital herpes are very mild in most cases and may never appear. Symptoms usually begin within 12 days of exposure to the virus. Symptoms of genital herpes include:

• itching
• the pain
• Small red blisters that appear a few days after symptoms start
• Ulcers, which are formed due to rupture of blisters
• Pain when urinating
• Flu-like symptoms at the beginning of exposure to the virus such as swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever and fatigue.

Causes of genital herpes

Genital herpes is caused by exposure to the genital herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), which enters the body through absorption from the skin or mucous membranes (the thin layer that lines the openings of the body). Once the virus enters the body, it begins to multiply within the cells of the body and live inside them.

How is the infection transmitted with genital herpes?

The infection with the genital herpes virus is transmitted through one of three ways, namely:

• Sexual contact with a person infected with the virus and its carrier
• Skin and mucous membranes contact between infected and healthy
• Transmission of the virus through the placenta from the pregnant mother to the fetus or transmission to the fetus directly during childbirth

Diagnosis of genital herpes

A doctor who specializes in dermatology can diagnose genital herpes by performing a physical examination and examining the skin lesions, as well as by relying on the results of some tests, including:

• Growing a sample of blister fluid on a cell culture to monitor virus growth
• A PCR or polymerase chain reaction test, which is used to detect the presence of virus nucleic acid in blood or tissues.
• Blood tests to detect the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood.

Treatment of genital herpes

Genital herpes usually clears up on its own within a few weeks, but recovery may be more difficult for some people and in cases of weakened immunity and the presence of other diseases.

There is no definitive cure for the genital herpes virus, but the symptoms can be removed and cured through the available treatments, but without expelling the virus from the body completely, and therefore the possibility of the disease returning and the re-emergence of symptoms is present in all cases.

Medication treatment

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 infections are treated with antiviral medications. These drugs interfere with the viral replication cycle and prevent its multiplication inside the cells, thus reducing the number of the virus in the body and stopping its activity. Antiviral medications used to treat genital herpes include:

• acyclovir;
• Valacyclovir

Natural herbal treatment

Some natural herbs and oils, as well as nutritional supplements and other natural preparations, can be used to treat genital herpes, as natural herbs and oils that can be useful in treatment include:

• aloe vera
• Manuka honey
• Licorice
• tea tree oil
• chamomile
• ginger
• Wild thyme
• Lemon balm extract

Laser treatment of genital herpes

The therapeutic advantages of lasers can be used to treat genital herpes. Low intensity laser therapy is highly effective in treating recurrent genital herpes infections, as it can speed up the healing of herpes sores and shorten the healing time from 6 weeks to 2 weeks or 10 days.

Your medical advice for the prevention of genital herpes

Genital herpes can be prevented in the same way as other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis. In general, ways to prevent infection include:

• Avoid sexual contact with infected people
• Avoid multiple sexual partners
• Avoid direct contact with skin lesions of a herpes patient