Genital herpes has a viral cause and is a very annoying contagious disease.
This article exposes everything there is to know about genital herpes, being of special interest to know causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In addition, doubts about this health problem, which is contagious, will be cleared up.
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What is genital herpes? Is it different than lipstick?
There are different types of herpes, although genital and labial herpes are related . There is quite a bit of confusion on this subject, as both are forms of a herpes called herpes simplex.
Specifically, cold sores are called herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), while genital herpes is called herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2). There are other herpes, such as herpes zoster, which appears on the back.
Cold sores and genital herpes, therefore, are not only in the same family, but share virtually all of their genetic material. This means that the genital infection can result in lipstick by contagion and vice versa, although it is not the most common.
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Causes
Genital herpes always has contagion as the first cause of appearance . This occurs when there are intimate relationships between genital mucous membranes, with women being much more sensitive to infection.
If you are immunosuppressed it is also easier for contagion to occur. Thus, when this virus enters the body for the first time, it does not produce symptoms until after 15 days.
From this moment, the person and the virus are already inseparable. Not because the virus is active, always causing infection, but because it always remains latently attached to nerve ganglia.
If the virus is active there is a high chance of infection if the wounds come into contact with other people. For this reason, any possibility of contagion must be avoided. Of course, when the person does not suffer from an activation of the virus, contagion cannot occur.
Finally, it must be taken into account that the virus can also be transmitted to the baby during childbirth. In these cases, the gynecologist must be notified and the case studied so as not to infect the newborn.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of genital herpes are very clear . In the first instance, a burning sensation is felt in the genital area that ends up giving rise to blisters, which develop until they break.
At this time is when you suffer more pain, and it is that the wounds generated leave the area very sensitive. In addition, yellowish crusts appear that dries up after days.
The pain is much more acute when symptoms are experienced for the first time. The area becomes swollen and red, and the person may have symptoms that go far beyond the affected area
Diagnosis
Medical professionals can diagnose genital herpes on physical examination alone . The wounds in the affected area are very particular, and it is difficult to confuse them with any other type of disease in the genital area.
In any case, there is also another way to confirm the diagnosis, and that is through the results of some laboratory tests. There are three possibilities: viral culture, polymerase chain test and blood test.
In all three cases, it is necessary to take some samples, which are of tissue from the affected area (a scraping is enough) or of blood. In the latter case, the genetic material of the virus is not detected directly, but the antibodies generated by the body itself.
Treatment
There are different antiviral products that help mitigate the symptoms of genital herpes . The most popular products are ointments that help the virus to express itself in a less virulent way, but there are also oral pills that are even more effective.
In any case, it must be taken into account that when the virus is in the active phase, it must end its cycle. Also, there is no way to prevent future respawns. The only thing you can do is try not to be immunosuppressed.
There are some natural remedies that can also alleviate the symptoms, but it is not possible to avoid their appearance. Some of them are hot baths with Epsom salts, and a few years ago alcohol was used a lot to dry wounds, but it causes a lot of pain.
How to prevent contagion
The only effective way to prevent the spread of genital herpes is to avoid having intimate relationships . You must wait for the cycle of the virus in the active phase to end, otherwise the other person could become infected.
Some people think that using a condom could be the solution, but wounds can release contagious fluid that can infect at any time.
Another reason to contraindicate intimate relationships is that the wounds cause a lot of pain, so the pressure on them can be very annoying.
In conclusion, it must be understood that prevention is the only option that makes sense in these cases. Rushing and having sex can infect a person, while someone who already has the virus can suffer from very annoying pain.
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Bibliographic references
- Carter, J. y Saunders, V. (2013). Virology, Principles and Applications. John Wiley & Sons](https://www.amazon.es/Virology-Principles-Applications-John-Carter/dp/1119991420).
- Mettenleiter; et al. (2008). Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology. Poole (RU): Caister Academic Press.
- Spear, P. (2003). Herpesvirus Entry: an Update. Journal of Virology, 77 (19), 10179–10185.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
